Expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in choriodecidua with labour and delivery at term and preterm

To evaluate the association between intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM -1) in the choriodecidua and preterm labour and delivery, ICAM-1 mRNA abund ance was assessed by northern analysis, and protein levels by ELISA, in sam ples of this tissue after term and preterm delivery. The median ICAM-1 mRNA expression following preterm delivery (PTD) was 4.8 and 3.8 times (P<0.05) , respectively those following elective Caesarean section prior to labour a t term (CST) and following vaginal delivery after spontaneous labour at ter m (SLT). The concentration of ICAM-1 protein in the PTD samples was 2.2 and 3.0 times (P<0.05) those in CST and SLT samples, respectively. The differe nces between the term groups were not significant. The results were substan tially the same when a pretenn spontaneous labour (PTL) subgroup, exclusive of deliveries complicated by pre-eclampsia or intrauterine growth restrict ion, was compared with the term groups. Choriodecidual ICAM-1 mRNA expressi on, but not ICAM-1 protein concentration, significantly correlated to the d egree of leukocyte infiltration of the PTD gestational membranes. Neither c orrelated significantly to clinical indications of intrauterine or neonatal infection. These findings indicate that ICAM-1 is expressed by the human c horiodecidua and that this expression is elevated with preterm labour and d elivery, particularly with increased leukocyte infiltration.