title: Cytokine expression and ultrastructural alterations in fresh-frozen, freeze-dried and γ-irradiated human amniotic membranes.
abstract: The aim of this work was to compare the effects on human amniotic membrane of freeze-drying and γ-irradiation at doses of 10, 20 and 30 kGy, with freezing. For this purpose, nine cytokines (interleukin 10, platelet-derived growth factor-AA, platelet-derived growth factor-BB, basic fibroblast growth factor, epidermal growth factor, transforming growth factor beta 1, and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-1, -2, and -4) were titrated in 5 different preparations for each of 3 amniotic membranes included in the study. In addition, the extracellular matrix structure of each sample was assessed by transmission electron microscopy. While freeze-drying did not seem to affect the biological structure or cytokine content of the different amniotic membrane samples, γ-irradiation led to a significant decrease in the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-4, basic fibroblast growth factor and epidermal growth factor, and induced structural damage to the epithelium, basement membrane and lamina densa. The higher the irradiation dose the more severe the damage to the amniotic membrane structure. In conclusion, the Authors recommend processing amniotic membrane under sterile conditions to guarantee safety at every step rather than final sterilization with γ-irradiation, thereby avoiding alteration to the biological characteristics of the amniotic membrane.
authors.affiliation: Treviso Tissue Bank Foundation, Piazzale Ospedale 1, Via Scarpa 9, 31100, Treviso, Italy. apaolin@fbtv-treviso.org.
authors.forename: Adolfo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paolin
authors.affiliation: Treviso Tissue Bank Foundation, Piazzale Ospedale 1, Via Scarpa 9, 31100, Treviso, Italy.
authors.forename: Diletta
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Trojan
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine and Biomedical Technologies, Medical School, Federico II University of Naples, Via Pansini 5, 80131, Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leonardi
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine and Biomedical Technologies, Medical School, Federico II University of Naples, Via Pansini 5, 80131, Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mellone
authors.affiliation: Anatomic Pathology, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Volpe
authors.affiliation: Anatomic Pathology, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Augusto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Orlandi
authors.affiliation: Treviso Tissue Bank Foundation, Piazzale Ospedale 1, Via Scarpa 9, 31100, Treviso, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cogliati
mesh_terms: D000650:Amnion / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005612:Freeze Drying; D005720:Gamma Rays; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines
keywords: Amniotic membrane; Cytokines; Freeze-drying; Transmission electron microscopy; γ-Irradiation