ABSTRACT
Objective: The objective of this study was to elucidate the potential role of anti-inflammatory interleukin (IL)-10 and pro-inflammatory (IL-12) cytokines as well as melatonin (MEL) in the development of placental dysfunction in the pregnant women with acquired toxoplasmosis (TOX). Materials and Methods: This case-control study was carried out at the Department of Clinical Parasitology in teamwork with the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital, College of Medicine, Al-Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq, from September 2018 to February 2019. The recruited patients and healthy controls were allocated into two groups - Group A: pregnant women with acute TOX (n = 45) and Group B: healthy pregnant women (n = 25). Anti-Toxoplasma (Toxo) immunoglobulin M (IgM), serum and placental as well as serum-placental (SP) ratio of MEL, IL-10, and IL-12 were measured. SPSS version 20.00 was used for data analysis. Results: Anti-Toxo IgM serum level and IL-12 serum levels were higher compared with controls (P = 0.001). Both MEL and IL-10 serum levels were lower in the pregnant women with acute TOX compared with controls (P = 0.002 and P = 0.002), respectively. Besides, Both MEL and IL-10 placental levels were lower in the pregnant women with acute TOX compared with controls (P = 0.001). As well, placental IL-12 level was higher in the pregnant women with acute TOX compared with controls (P = 0.001). SP ratio of MEL was higher in the pregnant women with acute TOX compared with controls (P = 0.001). Conclusion: MEL and anti-inflammatory IL-10 are reduced in the pregnant women with acute TOX, while IL-12 is increased. SP ratio of MEL but not of IL-10 or IL-12 is elevated in the pregnant women with acute TOX reflecting the risk of PD.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate melatonin serum level and inflammatory biomarkers in acute toxoplasmosis in pregnant women with recurrent abortions. METHODS: The case-control study was conducted at the Department of Parasitology, together with the Department of Obstetrics, Al-Yarmouk teaching hospital, Baghdad Iraq, from September 2018 until February 2019. Included were 60 pregnant women in first trimester with acute toxoplasmosis (n=28) or without toxoplasmosis (n=32) and with the history of recurrent abortions with a control group of healthy pregnant women (n=25). Melatonin and interleukins (IL-10, 1L-12) serum levels were evaluated in all groups. The data analysis was done by using SPSS 20. RESULTS: The mean serum melatonin level was lower in the pregnant women with acute toxoplasmosis (69.57±17.37 pg/ml) as compared to the pregnant women without acute toxoplasmosis (77.25±24.35 pg/ml), but the difference was not significant (p=0.43). Healthy pregnant women had a higher serum melatonin level (117.48±34.88 pg/ml) compared with the pregnant women with/without acute toxoplasmosis and a history of recurrent abortions. IL-10 serum level was higher in the healthy controls (12.73±2.58 pg/ml) as compared with the pregnant women with acute toxoplasmosis (5.50±1.92pg/ml) or without acute toxoplasmosis (8.50±2.53 pg/ml), (p<0.0001). Serum melatonin level was positively correlated with serum IL-10 level (P<0.001, r=0.94), and negatively correlated with serum IL-12 level in pregnant women with recurrent abortions with or without acute toxoplasmosis. CONCLUSIONS: Acute toxoplasmosis during pregnancy increases the risk of abortion through reduction of maternal serum melatonin level and dysregulation of pro-inflammatory/inflammatory cytokines axis.
