Mitchell, Murray D; McCowan, Lesley M E; Coleman, Matthew A G; Sato, Timothy A; Keelan, Jeffrey A; Marvin, Keith W
Abstract:
To evaluate the association betweenintercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in the chorio-decidua and pretermlabour and delivery, ICAM-1 mRNA abundance was assessed by northern analysis,and protein levels by ELISA, in samples of this tissue after term and pretermdelivery. The median ICAM-1 mRNA expression following preterm delivery (PTD)was 4.8 and 3.8 times (P<0.05), respectively, thosefollowing elective Caesarean section prior to labour at term (CST) andfollowing vaginal delivery after spontaneous labour at term (SLT). Theconcentration of ICAM-1 protein in the PTD samples was 2.2 and 3.0 times(P<0.05) those in CST and SLT samples, respectively.The differences between the term groups were not significant. The results weresubstantially the same when a preterm spontaneous labour (PTL) subgroup,exclusive of deliveries complicated by pre-eclampsia or intrauterine growthrestriction, was compared with the term groups. Choriodecidual ICAM-1 mRNAexpression, but not ICAM-1 protein concentration, significantly correlated tothe degree of leukocyte infiltration of the PTD gestational membranes. Neithercorrelated significantly to clinical indications of intrauterine or neonatalinfection. These findings indicate that ICAM-1 is expressed by the humanchoriodecidua and that this expression is elevated with preterm labour anddelivery, particularly with increased leukocyte infiltration.