Intraamniotic inflammatory response to bacteria: analysis of multiple amniotic fluid proteins in women with preterm prelabor rupture of membranes

Abstract

Objective: To analyse whether intraamniotic inflammation in response to bacteria is different below and above gestational age 32 weeks in pregnancies complicated by preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM). Methods: A prospective study was performed, and 115 women with singleton pregnancies complicated by PPROM at gestational ages between 24^0/7 and 36^6/7 weeks were included in the study. Transabdominal amniocenteses were performed. Amniotic fluid was analysed using polymerase chain reactions for genital mycoplasmas and cultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. The concentrations of 26 proteins in the amniotic fluid were determined simultaneously using multiplex technology. Results: Bacteria were found in the amniotic fluid of 43% (49/115) of the women. The women were stratified into two subgroups according to gestational age 32 weeks. The amniotic fluid levels of four (interleukin-6, interleukin-10, CC chemokine ligands 2, and 3) and one specific (CC chemokine ligands 2) proteins were higher in women with the presence of bacteria in the amniotic fluid below and above 32 gestational weeks, respectively. Conclusions: An intraamniotic inflammatory response to bacteria in pregnancies complicated by PPROM seems to be different below and above 32 weeks of gestation.

Keywords::

• Cytokines
• gestational age
• multiplexed immunoassay
• protein profiling
• preterm labor

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Vladimir Buchta, Lenka Pliskova and Radka Bolehovska at the Department of Molecular Biology for microbiological assistance.

Declaration of Interest: This work was supported by grants from the Czech Science Foundation (No. 304-09-0494), from the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic (NS 10382-3/2009) and by the Research Project (MZO 00179906). Additional support came from Swedish government grants to researchers in the Public Health Service (ALF) (ALFGBG-136431), Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg, Sweden, Swedish Medical Society, Stockholm, Sweden (2008–21198) and the Jane and Dan Olsson Research Foundation, Gothenburg, Sweden.