Abstract
PROM is one of the common complications of perinatal period, which seriously threatens the mother and newborn. The purpose of this study was to identify the role of NLRC4 inflammasomes in this process and their underlying mechanisms. We performed high-throughput RNA sequencing of fetal membrane tissue from 3 normal pregnant women and 3 term-premature rupture of fetal membrane (TPROM) patients who met the inclusion criteria, and found that NLRC4 was significantly up-regulated in TPROM patients. An observational study of TPROM patients (PROM group, n = 30) and normal pregnant women (control group, n = 30) was performed at the Xuzhou Maternal and Child Health Hospital affiliated to Xuzhou Medical University from May 2018 to May 2019. The expression of genes involved in inflammasome complex including NLRC1, NLRC3, AIM2, NLRC4, ASC, caspase-1, IL-6, IL-18 and IL-1βwas determined via real-time PCR, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. Measurement of NLRC4 level in serum was conducted by ELISA assay. The results showed that the NLRC4, ASC, caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18 levels in fetal membrane, placental tissues and maternal serum were markedly higher in the PROM group than that in the control group. In conclusion, NLRC4 is a markedly up-regulated gene in TPROM fetal membrane tissue, suggesting that NLRC4 is involved in the occurrence and development of TPROM; NLRC4 levels in maternal blood serum are closely related to TPROM and have the potential to assist doctors in predicting and diagnosing PROM.
Highlights
Premature rupture of membranes (PROM) refers to the rupture of the membranes before delivery, which is characterized by painless fluid leaking from the vagina
We note that the expression of NLR family CARD domain-containing protein 4 (NLRC4), which is closely related to the inflammatory response, is significantly up-regulated in the fetal membrane tissue of patients with term-premature rupture of fetal membranes (TPROM), so we hypothesized that the NLRC4 are involved in the occurrence and development of PROM
The results indicated that the RNA expression of NLRC4 was significantly increased in both placental (1.53±0.21 versus 1.03±0.13 [control], P
Summary
Premature rupture of membranes (PROM) refers to the rupture of the membranes before delivery, which is characterized by painless fluid leaking from the vagina. It is one of the common complications of perinatal period, which seriously threatens the mother and newborn [1,2,3]. PROM that occurs prior to 37 weeks of pregnancy is pre-premature rupture of fetal membranes (PPROM) and PROM that occurs after 37 weeks of pregnancy is term-premature rupture of fetal membranes (TPROM). The pathogenesis of TPROM is still unclear, but it usually. NLRC4 and PROM results from vaginal flora, fallopian tube inflammation, insufficient trophoblastic infiltration, and the abnormal pressure of the amniotic cavity are possible causes of TPROM [4]. Clinical prediction of PROM is still difficult to achieve and the effect of traditional single conservative treatment strategies is not satisfactory
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
