Histological changes in the umbilical artery following severe chorioamnionitis and funisitis may be indicative of early atherosclerosis.
We investigated whether histological evidence of early atherosclerosis was present in the umbilical artery of 21 pregnancies complicated by severe perinatal inflammation, and 21 controls matched for gestational age, sex and birth weight. Severe chorioamnionitis with funisitis was associated with increased numbers of CD68 and CD45 positive cells (both P < 0.01), indicating accumulation of monocyte-derived macrophages in lesion-susceptible regions. A down-regulation of SMA expression (P = 0.01) was also observed. These preliminary findings suggest that chorioamnionitis with funisitis may promote changes in the intima and media of the umbilical artery similar to that seen in early atherosclerosis.
Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Newborn Research Centre, Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Anthony R
AR
Rafferty
Anatomical Pathology, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Colleen
C
D'Arcy
Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Leonie
L
Cann
Anatomical Pathology, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Jan
J
Pyman
Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Peter
P
Rogers
Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Newborn Research Centre, Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Peter G
PG
Davis
Department of Paediatrics, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
Cameron
C
Nowell
Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: david.burgner@mcri.edu.au.
David
D
Burgner
D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000378:metabolism; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002821:Chorioamnionitis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D014469:Umbilical Arteries / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
D000199:Actins; D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens; C067980:CD68 antigen, human; D000097382:CD68 Molecule; C516769:PTPRC protein, human
Atherosclerosis; Chorioamnionitis; Funisitis; Histopathology; Intima-media thickness; Umbilical artery