Abstract
Objective: We investigated the expression profiles of tight junction and adhesion molecules on the fetal membranes of patients with preterm premature rupture of the membrane (pPROM) compared with those of normal membranes. Methods: We collected pPROM samples under institutional review board approval of Dankook University. Fetal membranes were collected and evaluated with immunocytochemistry for a qualitative pattern and by Western blot for quantitative expression of tight junction and adhesion molecules. Results: We found significant changes in the properties of occludin as a tight junction for pPROM. The immunohistochemistry results showed that occludin lost polarization on the fetal membranes of patients with pPROM. The Western blot data showed that occludin expression decreased compared with that of normal membranes. Integrin beta1 expression decreased significantly in pPROM samples compared with that in normal samples. Conclusion: The results suggest that occludin and integrin beta 1 signals are a major factor in human pPROM. More study is needed to determine how adhesion signaling is related to pPROM.
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