Immunohistochemical study of MMP-2, MMP-9, EGFR and IL-8 in decidual and trophoblastic specimens of recurrent pregnancy loss cases

Figures & data

Figure 1. MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression on trophoblastic and decidual tissue specimens among the RPL and elective abortion (control) group. (A) Moderate expression of MMP-2 on RPL trophoblastic tissue (↑) (×10 magnification). (B) Moderate expression of MMP-2 on control trophoblastic tissue (↑) (×10 magnification). (C) Mild expression of MMP-2 on RPL decidual tissue (*) (×10 magnification). (D) Mild expression of MMP-2 on control decidual tissue (*) (×10 magnification). (E) Moderate expression of MMP-9 on RPL trophoblastic tissue (↑) (×10 magnification). (F) Negative expression of MMP-9 on control trophoblastic tissue (↑) (×10 magnification). (G) Moderate expression of MMP-9 on RPL decidual tissue (*) (×10 magnification). (H) Negative expression of MMP-9 on control decidual tissue (*) (×10 magnification). The graphs are an approximate percentage of staining for the specimens presented in this figure.

Table 1. MMP-2, MMP-9, EGFR and IL-8 intensities of staining on trophoblastic and decidual tissues. Comparisons among experimental (RPL) and control (electively abortion) groups.

Antibodies	MMP-2 trophoblast		MMP-2 decidua parietalis		MMP-9 trophoblast		MMP-9 decidua parietalis		EGFR trophoblast		EGFR decidua parietalis		IL-8 trophoblast		IL-8 decidua parietalis
Group/Staining	RPL	CTRL	RPL	CTRL	RPL	CTRL	RPL	CTRL	RPL	CTRL	RPL	CTRL	RPL	CTRL	RPL	CTRL
Negative (−)	4 (18%)	3 (17%)	19 (86%)	11 (61%)	1 (4.5%)	16 (89%)	0	15 (83%)	0	1 (6%)	3 (14%)	2 (11%)	0	2	0	1 (6%)
Mild (+)	11 (50%)	2 (11%)	3 (14%)	6 (33%)	9 (41%)	2 (11%)	5 (23%)	3 (17%)	4 (18%)	10 (55%)	12 (54%)	12 (66%)	9 (41%)	13 (73%)	2 (9%)	16 (88%)
Moderate (++)	7 (32%)	12 (66%)	0	1 (6%)	11 (50%)	0	15 (68%)	0	17 (77.5%)	7 (39%)	7 (32%)	4 (23%)	11 (50%)	3 (17%)	15 (68%)	1 (6%)
Strong (+++)	0	1 (6%)	0	0	1 (4.5%)	0	2 (9%)	0	1 (4.5%)	0	0	0	2 (9%)	0	5 (23%)	0
Specimens’ sum (100%)	22	18	22	18	22	18	22	18	22	18	22	18	22	18	22	18
Chi-square test (p-values)	.019*		.665		<.00001*		<.00001*		.0158*		.731		.024*		<.00001*

*The result is significant at p < .05 (two-tailed hypothesis). RPL: Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Group; CTRL: Control Group.

Figure 2. EGFR and IL-8 expression on trophoblastic and decidual tissue specimens among the RPL and elective abortion (control) group. (A) Moderate expression of EGFR on RPL trophoblastic tissue (↑) (×10 magnification). (B) Mild expression of EGFR on control trophoblastic tissue (↑) (×4 magnification). (C) Mild expression of EGFR on RPL decidual tissue (*) (×4 magnification). (D) Mild expression of EGFR on control decidual tissue (*) (×10 magnification). (E) Moderate expression of IL-8 on RPL trophoblastic tissue (↑) (×40 magnification). (F) Mild expression of IL-8 on control trophoblastic tissue (↑) (×4 magnification). (G) Moderate to strong expression of IL-8 on RPL decidual tissue (*) (×10 magnification). (H) Mild expression of IL-8 on control decidual tissue (*) (×4 magnification). The graphs are an approximate percentage of staining for the specimens presented in this figure.