title: Analysis of cell-cell junctions in human amnion and chorionic plate affected by chorioamnionitis.
abstract: Chorioamnionitis is an acute inflammatory reaction associated with the premature rupture of the fetal membranes. It is caused mainly by invasion of bacteria from the vaginal tract that can penetrate the intact membranes and invade the amnion cavity and the decidua. Tight junctions (TJs) and adherent junctions (AJs) are intercellular junctions crucial for epithelia adhesion and permeability regulation in a wide variety of tissues and organs. Our aim is to investigate if TJ and AJ molecules are involved in human chorioamnionitis. We studied the protein expression (by immunohistochemistry and western blotting) and the mRNA levels (by RT-PCR) of some junction proteins such as Zonula Occludens-1 (ZO-1), occludin, VE-cadherin and β-catenin in fetal membranes from women with chorioamnionitis compared to those membranes derived from idiopathic pregnancies. Western blotting and immunohistochemical data established that occludin expression was decreased in amnion with chorioamnionitis compared to amnion from idiopathic pregnancies. Samples tested for ZO-1, VE-cadherin and β-catenin (proteins and mRNAs) showed no differences between idiopathic and pathological membranes. One of the most relevant results is the decrease of occludin in membranes with chorioamnionitis. Since we have previously demonstrated that some cytokines, particularly elevated in the chorioamnionitis, cause the disruption of TJs in placental villi, we suggest that the decrease of occludin in amnion may be the first change that leads to the rupture of the amniotic membrane in this pathology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Licini
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tossetta
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Avellini
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Pasquapina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ciarmela
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lorenzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biotechnologies Pathology Unit, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Toti
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health - Centre of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosaria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gesuita
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Voltolini
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Felice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Petraglia
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castellucci
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marzioni
mesh_terms: D000650:Amnion / Q000473:pathology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002821:Chorioamnionitis / Q000473:pathology*; D002823:Chorion / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000473:pathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D062725:Tight Junction Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D062725:Tight Junction Proteins