title: Modulation of amniotic fluid activin-a and inhibin-a in women with preterm premature rupture of the membranes and infection-induced preterm birth.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Activins and inhibins are important modulators of inflammatory processes. We explored activation of amniotic fluid (AF) activin-A and inhibin-A system in women with intra-amniotic infection and preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PPROM).
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed 78 AF samples: '2nd trimester-control' (n=12), '3rd trimester-control' (n=14), preterm labor with intact membranes [positive-AF-cultures (n=13), negative-AF-cultures (n=13)], and PPROM [positive-AF-cultures (n=13), negative-AF-cultures (n=13)]. Activin-A levels were evaluated ex-vivo following incubation of amniochorion and placental villous explants with Gram-negative lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or Gram-positive (Pam3Cys) bacterial mimics. Ability of recombinant activin-A and inhibin-A to modulate inflammatory reactions in fetal membranes was explored through explants' IL-8 release.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Activin-A and inhibin-A were present in human AF and were gestational age-regulated. Activin-A was significantly upregulated by infection. Lower inhibin-A levels were seen in PPROM. LPS elicited release of activin-A from amniochorion, but not from villous explants. Recombinant activin-A stimulated IL-8 release from amniochorion, an effect that was not reversed by inhibin-A.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Human AF activin-A and inhibin-A are involved in biological processes linked to intra-amniotic infection/inflammation-induced preterm birth.
authors: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
authors: Victor A
authors: VA
authors: Rosenberg
authors: Irina A
authors: IA
authors: Buhimschi
authors: Antonette T
authors: AT
authors: Dulay
authors: Sonya S
authors: SS
authors: Abdel-Razeq
authors: Emily A
authors: EA
authors: Oliver
authors: Christina M
authors: CM
authors: Duzyj
authors: Heather
authors: H
authors: Lipkind
authors: Christian M
authors: CM
authors: Pettker
authors: Catalin S
authors: CS
authors: Buhimschi
mesh_terms: D028341:Activins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000378:metabolism; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000473:pathology*; D047928:Premature Birth
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; C422405:activin A; C422362:inhibin A; D028341:Activins; D007265:Inhibins