Altered secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor expression in the uterine decidua of tubal compared with intrauterine pregnancy.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND:
The role of the innate immune system in tubal implantation remains undefined. This study compared expression of two key mediators of innate immunity, secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) and elafin, in the uterine decidua of women with intrauterine and tubal pregnancies.

METHODS:
Uterine decidua was collected from women (18-45 years) undergoing surgical termination of pregnancy (n = 7), surgical management of spontaneous abortion (n = 6) and tubal pregnancy (n = 10). Using quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry, mRNA and protein expression patterns of SLPI and elafin were compared.

RESULTS:
Relative SLPI mRNA expression was significantly higher in decidua of women with tubal pregnancy (12.37 +/- 2.66) compared with spontaneous abortion (5.09 +/- 2.22, P < 0.0185). There was no difference demonstrated in elafin mRNA expression. SLPI and elafin protein expression were demonstrated in the decidual leukocyte populations and epithelium. There was no obvious qualitative difference in levels of SLPI and elafin protein expression or their distribution in the uterine decidua of women with termination of pregnancy, spontaneous abortion or tubal pregnancy.

CONCLUSIONS:
Herein we demonstrate novel differences in gene expression of uterine decidua of tubal pregnancy compared with spontaneous abortion thereby contributing further to current knowledge of mechanisms involved in extrauterine implantation. The altered expression of SLPI may be a consequence of, or predispose to, tubal pregnancy.

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Author information

Author/s: Dalgetty, D M (DM); Sallenave, J M (JM); Critchley, H O D (HO); Williams, A R (AR); Tham, W Y (WY); King, A E (AE); Horne, A W (AW);

Affiliation: MRC Human Reproductive Sciences Unit, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK.

Grants: (Agency:United Kingdom Medical Research Council)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Human reproduction (Oxford, England) (Hum Reprod), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Jul; vol 23 (issue 7) : pp 1485-90

Dates: Created 2008/06/09; Completed 2008/07/22;

PMID: 18456670, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Abortion, Induced
Abortion, Spontaneous - metabolism
Adolescent
Adult
Decidua - metabolism
Elafin - biosynthesis
Female

Female
Humans
Middle Aged
Pregnancy - metabolism
Pregnancy, Tubal - metabolism
RNA, Messenger - metabolism
Secretory Leukocyte Peptidase Inhibitor - biosynthesis

Associated Chemicals: Elafin (0) ; PI3 protein, human (0) ; RNA, Messenger (0) ; SLPI protein, human (0) ; Secretory Leukocyte Peptidase Inhibitor (0)

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