Chorioamnionitis and increased galectin-1 expression in PPROM --an anti-inflammatory response in the fetal membranes?
OBJECTIVE
Galectin-1 can regulate immune responses upon infection and inflammation. We determined galectin-1 expression in the chorioamniotic membranes and its changes during histological chorioamnionitis.


METHODS
Chorioamniotic membranes were obtained from women with normal pregnancy (n = 5) and from patients with pre-term pre-labor rupture of the membranes (PPROM) with (n = 8) and without histological chorioamnionitis (n = 8). Galectin-1 mRNA and protein were localized by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Galectin-1 mRNA expression was also determined by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
Galectin-1 mRNA and protein were detected in the amniotic epithelium, chorioamniotic fibroblasts/myofibroblasts and macrophages, chorionic trophoblasts, and decidual stromal cells. In patients with PPROM, galectin-1 mRNA expression in the fetal membranes was higher (2.07-fold, P = 0.002) in those with chorioamnionitis than in those without. Moreover, chorioamionitis was associated with a strong galectin-1 immunostaining in amniotic epithelium, chorioamniotic mesodermal cells, and apoptotic bodies.


CONCLUSIONS
Chorioamnionitis is associated with an increased galectin-1 mRNA expression and strong immunoreactivity of the chorioamniotic membranes; thus, galectin-1 may be involved in the regulation of the inflammatory responses to chorioamniotic infection.
Than
Nandor Gabor
NG
Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Wayne State University/Hutzel Women's Hospital, 3990 John R, Box 4, Detroit, MI 48201, USA. nthan@med.wayne.edu
Kim
Sung-Su
SS
Abbas
Asad
A
Han
Yu Mi
YM
Hotra
John
J
Tarca
Adi L
AL
Erez
Offer
O
Wildman
Derek E
DE
Kusanovic
Juan Pedro
JP
Pineles
Beth
B
Montenegro
Daniel
D
Edwin
Samuel S
SS
Mazaki-Tovi
Shali
S
Gotsch
Francesca
F
Espinoza
Jimmy
J
Hassan
Sonia S
SS
Papp
Zoltan
Z
Romero
Roberto
R
D002821:Chorioamnionitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005321:Extraembryonic Membranes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D037483:Galectin 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism
D037483:Galectin 1; D012333:RNA, Messenger