Gestational Day-Dependent Expression of Interleukin-10 and Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha in Porphyromonas gingivalis-infected Pregnant Rats

Abstract

Fetal growth restriction remains a major cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Porphyromonas gingivalis can induce placental inflammatory response resulting in fetal growth restriction. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the potential utility of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-a and anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in rat placental tissues to understand whether these events were causally related. Methods: Female rats were infected with live-Porphyromonas gingivalis at concentration of2xl0' cells/ml into subgingival sulcus area of the maxillary first molar before and/or during pregnancy. They were sacrificed on gestational day (G0)-14 and G020. The expression ofTNF-a and IL-JO in macrophages and trophoblast cells were detected by immunohistochemistry. Results: A higher expression ofTNF-a was found in spongiotrophoblast of the Pg-BO group on GOl4 (6.30±1.16), and in trophoblastic giant cells of Pg-0 group on G020 (5.50±1.35). Furthermore, a higher expression of IL-JO was found in trophoblastic giant cells of the Pg-BO group on GOl4 (4.50±1.51) and in syncytiotrophoblasts of Pg-BO group on G020 (8.70±2.67). Conclusion: The expression ofTNF-a on GOl4 and G020 were accompanied by increased expression of IL-10. The placental pathologic conditions induced by Porphyromonas gingivalis can be inhibited by elevated expression of IL-JO in macrophages and trophoblast cells.