Inflammasome assembly in the chorioamniotic membranes during spontaneous labor at term

• Published in: American journal of reproductive immunology (1989) 2017-05, Vol.77 (5), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Gomez‐Lopez, Nardhy, Romero, Roberto, Xu, Yi, Garcia‐Flores, Valeria, Leng, Yaozhu, Panaitescu, Bogdan, Miller, Derek, Abrahams, Vikki M., Hassan, Sonia S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: acute chorioamnionitis; Adult; Amnion - metabolism; Apoptosis; apoptosis‐associated speck‐like protein containing a CARD (ASC); ASC speck; Caspase; caspase‐1; Chorioamnionitis; Chorion - metabolism; Female; Flow cytometry; Health risk assessment; Humans; Inflammasomes; Inflammasomes - metabolism; interleukin‐1 beta; intra‐amniotic infection/inflammation; Labor, Obstetric - physiology; Leukocytes; Placenta; Pregnancy - physiology; Term Birth - metabolism; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1046-7408; 1600-0897
• DOI: 10.1111/aji.12648

Problem Inflammasome activation requires two steps: priming and assembly of the multimeric complex. The second step includes assembly of the sensor molecule and adaptor protein ASC (an apoptosis‐associated speck‐like protein containing a CARD), which results in ASC speck formation and the recruitment of caspase (CASP)‐1. Herein, we investigated whether there is inflammasome assembly in the chorioamniotic membranes and choriodecidual leukocytes from women who underwent spontaneous labor at term. Method of Study Using in situ proximity ligation assays, ASC/CASP‐1 complexes were determined in the chorioamniotic membranes from women who delivered at term without labor or underwent spontaneous labor at term with or without acute histologic chorioamnionitis (n=10‐11 each). Also, ASC speck formation was determined by flow cytometry in the choriodecidual leukocytes isolated from women who delivered at term with or without spontaneous labor (n=9‐12 each). Results (i) ASC/CASP‐1 complexes were detected in the chorioamniotic membranes; (ii) ASC/CASP‐1 complexes were greater in the chorioamniotic membranes from women who underwent spontaneous labor at term than in those without labor; (iii) ASC/CASP‐1 complexes were even more abundant in the chorioamniotic membranes from women who underwent spontaneous labor at term with acute histologic chorioamnionitis than in those without this placental lesion; (iv) ASC speck formation was detected in the choriodecidual leukocytes; and (v) ASC speck formation was greater in the choriodecidual leukocytes isolated from women who underwent spontaneous labor at term than in those without labor. Conclusion There is inflammasome assembly in the chorioamniotic membranes and choriodecidual leukocytes during spontaneous labor at term.