M.A. KAGANOVA

Samara State Medical University of MOH, Samara

  Contact details:

Kaganova M.A. — PhD (medicine), Associate Professor of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Address: 80 Polevaya St., Samara, Russian Federation, 443100, tel.: +7-846-207-19-68, e-mail: mkaganova@yandex.ru

 The purpose — to assess the level of mRNA expression of TLR2, TLR4, TLR7 genes by the placenta and fetal membranes during full-term physiological pregnancy complicated by premature rupture of the membranes (tPROM).

Material and methods. The placental and fetal membranes’ samples were collected during cesarean section to assess the level of mRNA expression of TLR2, TLR4, TLR7 genes in 35 women with full-term pregnancy in City Clinical Hospital No. 1 named after N.I. Pirogov (Samara). The main group consisted of 20 pregnant women with tPROM, 15 women were included in the control group (without tPROM or the onset of labor).

The level of mRNA expression of the TLR2, TLR4, TLR7 genes was determined by the method of reverse transcription PCR in real time (RT-PCR) in the laboratory of molecular genetic methods of DNA-Technology LLC, using a Proba NK set of reagents.

Results. The level of TLR2 expression in the fetal membranes in the main group was 1,87 times higher than in the control group, of TLR4 — 0,69 times lower and of TLR7 — 1,57 times higher. In the placenta, the expression of mRNA TLR2, TLR4, TLR7 genes did not differ. When compared by loci, a significant increase in TLR7 expression in the placenta was noted compared to the fetal membranes.

Conclusion. The expression of mRNA TLR2 and TLR7 was increased with PROM in the fetal membranes, while the placenta remained intact and apparently did not participate in the pathogenesis of PROM, but has a higher level of placental TLR7 in both groups, which is apparently associated with more intense antigenic viral stimulation of placental tissues during pregnancy compared with the membranes.

Key words: mRNA, Toll-related receptor, polymerase chain reaction, pregnancy, placenta, premature rupture of membrane.