Type II phospholipase A(2) in preterm human gestational tissues

Maternal genital tract infections and the associated inflammatory response may contribute to the onset of many cases of preterm labour. Type II phosph olipase A(2) (PLA(2)) hydrolyses glycerophospholipids, releasing free fatty acid for conversion into potent biological mediators, such as prostaglandi ns, which play a significant role in both the onset and progression of huma n labour and the activation of inflammatory reactions. The aim of this stud y was to quantify immunoreactive (ir) Type II PLA(2) in placenta, amnion an d choriodecidua collected from women delivering prematurely or due to histo logical chorioamnionitis, and to compare levels to those at term. Tissues w ere assayed for ir TS pe II PLA, by ELISA and expressed as ng/mg tissue pro tein. Ir Type II PLA, tissue content was significantly higher in preterm (n = 26) amnion and choriodecidua, but not in the placenta when compared to t issues obtained at term (n = 42). When the data were stratified with respec t to labour status, ir Type II PLA, content was significantly higher in the preterm not-in-labour group (NIL, n = 17) than the preterm in labour group (IL, n = 9) ill the amnion. When the NIL group was analysed with respect t o membrane rupture, women n ho had spontaneously ruptured membranes (n = 6) expressed significantly greater ir Type II PLA2 than those that had intact membranes (n = 11) in both the amnion and choriodecidua but not in the pla centa. No significant difference was observed between the preterm II, group (n = 9) and the group with histological chorioamnionitis (n = 14). The dat a obtained in this study support a role for Type II PLA, in association wit h spontaneous rupture of membranes. (C) 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.