title: Chorioamnionitis and increased galectin-1 expression in PPROM --an anti-inflammatory response in the fetal membranes?
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 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
authors.forename: Nandor Gabor
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Than
authors.forename: Sung-Su
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Asad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abbas
authors.forename: Yu Mi
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hotra
authors.forename: Adi L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Tarca
authors.forename: Offer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Erez
authors.forename: Derek E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Wildman
authors.forename: Juan Pedro
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Kusanovic
authors.forename: Beth
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pineles
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Montenegro
authors.forename: Samuel S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Edwin
authors.forename: Shali
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mazaki-Tovi
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gotsch
authors.forename: Jimmy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Espinoza
authors.forename: Sonia S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.forename: Zoltan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Papp
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Romero
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D037483:Galectin 1; D012333:RNA, Messenger