Regional and cellular localization of osteonectin/SPARC expression in connective tissue and cytotrophoblastic layers of human fetal membranes at term

Fetal membranes overlying the cervix in patients prior to and during labour , and within the rupture tear after spontaneous delivery at term, exhibit a ltered morphology, In this study we report that in comparison to mid-zone f etal membranes biopsies, these regions are characterized by increased expre ssion of the matricellular protein osteonectin or SPARC (Secreted Protein A cidic and Rich in Cysteine). In the reticular layer, the percentage of vime ntin positive mesenchymal cells immunoreactive for osteonectin increased in these regions from 3-4% to 25-33% and represented a fraction of the alpha -smooth muscle actin positive myofibroblasts elevated in the same regions. In the fibroblastic layer, the percentage of osteonectin positive cells inc reased from 1-5% to 8-13%; however, these did not exhibit the same relation ship to the alpha -smooth muscle actin positive myofibroblasts in this laye r. In the cytotrophoblastic layer the percentage of cytotrophoblastic cells immunoreactive for osteonectin increased from 1% to 6-12%, Elevation of in -situ detectable mRNA was also observed in the same cellular populations in this region. The incidence of cells positive for osteonectin mRNA or prote in in the reticular layer correlated with morphological changes. Osteonecti n has been implicated in the regulation of extracellular matrix turnover, a nd its pattern of expression suggests a role in the regional connective tis sue and cytotrophoblastic changes proposed to be involved in the cleavage a nd rupture of fetal membranes.