Genes upregulated in human fetal membranes by infection or labor

Objective: To determine whether suppression subtractive hybridization can d etect genes in fetal membranes that are upregulated by infection, preterm p remature rupture of membranes (PROM), or labor. Methods: Using suppression subtractive hybridization, messenger RNAs from a preterm fetal membrane obtained at cesarean delivery without labor (contro l) were subtracted from a pool of messenger RNAs of three patients with pre term FROM and vaginal delivery. Eight candidate genes identified as upregul ated were quantitated by Northern analysis in each of the tissues and in ad ditional patient subgroups. Results: Eight differentially upregulated genes were identified in preterm labor with FROM. Four of the genes are known to be involved in the response to inflammation or infection, and subsequent histologic examination showed one of the preterm FROM tissues to be infected. F-actin capping protein an d chitinase precursor, not previously known to be involved in infection, we re also upregulated in the infected tissue from preterm FROM. Northern blot s using additional subgroups of patients showed that a regulatory G-protein signaling protein gene was significantly upregulated at term by labor in a ddition to significant upregulation of interleukin-8. There was a strong co rrelation between the gene expression for complement factor-B and duration of membrane rupture in the patients with preterm FROM. Conclusion: Two novel genes potentially involved in the response to inflamm ation or infection have been identified. A regulatory G-protein signaling p rotein and interleukin-8 gene expression were upregulated by labor. Complem ent factor-B gene expression was directly related to the duration of membra ne rupture. (C) 1999 by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecolog ists.