Premature rupture of the fetal membrane combined with subclinical chorioamnionitis negatively affects pregnancy outcomes by a mechanism associated with reduced levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2.

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate whether premature rupture of the fetal membrane, combined with subclinical chorioamnionitis, affects pregnancy outcomes. In addition, the association between premature rupture of the fetal membrane (PROM) and the levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), an inactive proenzyme that can be activated by other factors or signals in humans, was examined. In total, 80 pregnant patients with PROM were classified into the experimental and control groups, according to their final placental pathological diagnosis results. The 40 patients in the experimental group suffered from subclinical chorioamnionitis, while the 40 patients in the control group exhibited no lesions of the placenta or fetal membrane. Tissue samples were collected and the total protein and mRNA were extracted for western blot and quantitative polymerase chain reaction analyses. ELISA was performed in order to detect the levels of MMP-2 in the serum of the two groups of patients. The rates of cesarean section, puerperal infection, postpartum hemorrhage, preterm incidence, placenta accreta, residual placental blood and stillbirth were all significantly higher in the experimental group compared with the control group. In addition, the mRNA and protein expression levels of MMP-2 were reduced in the experimental group compared with the control group. ELISA results indicated that the serum MMP-2 concentrations were also reduced in the patients with PROM. Therefore, the present study demonstrated that the PROM, combined with subclinical chorioamnionitis, significantly affected pregnancy outcomes and was associated with reduced levels of MMP-2.