Increasd mRNA expression of TRAF-6 and MST-4 in the placenta of women with preterm premature rupture of membranes with histological chorioamnionitis

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the expression of mammalian Ste20-like kinase 4 (MST-4) and tumour necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF-6) in placenta from cases with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) with histological chorioamnionitis (HCA). Methods: Forty PPROM pregnant women and 40 normal controls were recruited. The foetal membranes were examined by haematoxylin-eosin staining and immunohistochemistry (IHC). MST-4 and TRAF-6 mRNA levels were measured by real-time qPCR. Results: IHC showed that the expressions of TRAF-6 and MST-4 in the combined PPROM and intrauterine infection group were significantly stronger than those in the control group and the PPROM group (p 0.05). Conclusion: Increased mRNA expression of TRAF-6 and MST-4 are associated with PPROM with HCA, which may provide new detection markers for the early diagnosis of PPROM with HCA.

Keywords

• preterm premature rupture of membranes
• histological chorioamnionitis
• tumour necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6
• mammalian ste20-like kinase 4