ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Chorioamnionitis and Increased Galectin‐1 Expression in PPROM – An Anti‐Inflammatory Response in the Fetal Membranes?

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Abstract
Problem Galectin‐1 can regulate immune responses upon infection and inflammation. We determined galectin‐1 expression in the chorioamniotic membranes and its changes during histological chorioamnionitis. Method of study Chorioamniotic membranes were obtained from women with normal pregnancy (n = 5) and from patients with pre‐term pre‐labor rupture of the membranes (PPROM) with (n = 8) and without histological chorioamnionitis (n = 8). Galectin‐1 mRNA and protein were localized by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Galectin‐1 mRNA expression was also determined by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Results Galectin‐1 mRNA and protein were detected in the amniotic epithelium, chorioamniotic fibroblasts/myofibroblasts and macrophages, chorionic trophoblasts, and decidual stromal cells. In patients with PPROM, galectin‐1 mRNA expression in the fetal membranes was higher (2.07‐fold, P = 0.002) in those with chorioamnionitis than in those without. Moreover, chorioamionitis was associated with a strong galectin‐1 immunostaining in amniotic epithelium, chorioamniotic mesodermal cells, and apoptotic bodies. Conclusion Chorioamnionitis is associated with an increased galectin‐1 mRNA expression and strong immunoreactivity of the chorioamniotic membranes; thus, galectin‐1 may be involved in the regulation of the inflammatory responses to chorioamniotic infection.