A role for the NLRC4 inflammasome in premature rupture of membrane

PLoS One. 2020 Aug 24;15(8):e0237847. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0237847. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

PROM is one of the common complications of perinatal period, which seriously threatens the mother and newborn. The purpose of this study was to identify the role of NLRC4 inflammasomes in this process and their underlying mechanisms. We performed high-throughput RNA sequencing of fetal membrane tissue from 3 normal pregnant women and 3 term-premature rupture of fetal membrane (TPROM) patients who met the inclusion criteria, and found that NLRC4 was significantly up-regulated in TPROM patients. An observational study of TPROM patients (PROM group, n = 30) and normal pregnant women (control group, n = 30) was performed at the Xuzhou Maternal and Child Health Hospital affiliated to Xuzhou Medical University from May 2018 to May 2019. The expression of genes involved in inflammasome complex including NLRC1, NLRC3, AIM2, NLRC4, ASC, caspase-1, IL-6, IL-18 and IL-1βwas determined via real-time PCR, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. Measurement of NLRC4 level in serum was conducted by ELISA assay. The results showed that the NLRC4, ASC, caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18 levels in fetal membrane, placental tissues and maternal serum were markedly higher in the PROM group than that in the control group. In conclusion, NLRC4 is a markedly up-regulated gene in TPROM fetal membrane tissue, suggesting that NLRC4 is involved in the occurrence and development of TPROM; NLRC4 levels in maternal blood serum are closely related to TPROM and have the potential to assist doctors in predicting and diagnosing PROM.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • CARD Signaling Adaptor Proteins / blood
  • CARD Signaling Adaptor Proteins / metabolism*
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / blood
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Fetal Membranes, Premature Rupture / blood
  • Fetal Membranes, Premature Rupture / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Inflammasomes / metabolism*
  • Placenta / metabolism
  • Pregnancy

Substances

  • CARD Signaling Adaptor Proteins
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • Inflammasomes
  • NLRC4 protein, human

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the project of Xuzhou Science and Technology (KC15SH022), received by JZ. No additional external funding was received for this study.