Gelsolin down-regulates lipopolysaccharide-induced intraamniotic tumor necrosis factor-alpha production in the midtrimester of pregnancy.

Overview

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to identify gelsolin in midtrimester amniotic fluid and evaluate its interaction with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). STUDY DESIGN: Supernatants from 40 midtrimester amniotic fluid samples were incubated with Escherichia coli LPS, and gelsolin binding was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Unfractionated aliquots of 25 of the fluids were cultured ex vivo for 24 hours in the presence of LPS and supernatants tested for tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-10 production, and the influence of antigelsolin antibody was evaluated. RESULTS: Each amniotic fluid was positive for gelsolin that bound to LPS. LPS-induced TNF-alpha production was inversely proportional to the amniotic fluid concentrations of LPS-bound gelsolin (r = -0.5047; P = .006). Preincubation with monoclonal antibody to gelsolin led to an increase in LPS-induced TNF-alpha production (P = .01). There was no relationship between gelsolin and IL-10 production. CONCLUSION: Gelsolin is present in midtrimester amniotic fluid, binds to LPS, and inhibits the induction of TNF-alpha.