☆ 4.2 Article

Evidence for complement activation in the amniotic fluid of women with spontaneous preterm labor and intra-amniotic infection

JOURNAL OF MATERNAL-FETAL & NEONATAL MEDICINE (2009)

Journal

JOURNAL OF MATERNAL-FETAL & NEONATAL MEDICINE

Volume 22, Issue 11, Pages 983-992

Publisher

TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD

DOI: 10.3109/14767050902994747

Keywords

C5a; C4a; C3a; anaphylatoxins; pregnancy; MIAC; chorioamnionitis; intra-amniotic inflammation; prematurity; complement

Funding

Perinatology Research Branch
Division of Intramural Research
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
NIH
DHHS
EUNICE KENNEDY SHRIVER NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH & HUMAN DEVELOPMENT [ZIAHD002400] Funding Source: NIH RePORTER

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Abstract

Objective. The complement system plays an important role in host defense against infection. Concentrations of complement split products or anaphylatoxins (C3a, C4a, and C5a) in biological fluids are considered to reflect complement activation. The purpose of this study was to determine if term and preterm parturition are associated with evidence of complement activation in the amniotic fluid. Study design. Amniotic fluid (AF) samples were collected from 270 women in the following groups: (1) normal pregnant women in midtrimester (n - 70), (2) term not in labor (n - 23), (3) term in labor (n - 48), and (4) preterm labor (PTL) (n = 129). PTL was categorized into: (a) PTL without microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity (MIAC) who delivered at term (n = 42), (b) PTL who delivered preterm without MIAC (n = 57), and (c) PTL with MIAC (n = 30). C5a, C4a, and C3a concentrations in amniotic fluid were determined by ELISA. Nonparametric tests were used for statistical analysis. Results. (1) The median AF C5a concentration was higher in women at term than that of those in the midtrimester (p = 0.02); (2) Spontaneous labor at term was not associated with changes in AF concentrations of anaphylatoxins C3a, C4a, and C5a (all p > 0.05); (3) Among patients with PTL who delivered preterm, those with MIAC had higher AF C4a and C5a concentrations than those without infection (p < 0.01); and (4) AF C3a, C4a, and C5a concentrations were higher in patients with PTL with MIAC than in those with PTL without MIAC who delivered at term. Conclusion. Patients with spontaneous preterm labor and intact membranes with microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity had higher median amniotic fluid concentration of complement split products C3a, C4a, and C5a than patients without intra-amniotic infection. These findings suggest that preterm labor in the context of infection is associated with activation of the complement system.

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Insights into the Antibacterial Properties of Complement Peptides C3a, C4a, and C5a across Vertebrates

Xu-Jie Zhang, Ya-Qin Zhong, Zi-You Ma, Ya-Zhen Hu, Jian-Guo Su, Yong-An Zhang

Summary: Complement peptides C3a, C4a, and C5a have evolved divergently in vertebrates, leading to different antibacterial properties. The net charge of these peptides plays a crucial role in determining their antibacterial activities. Furthermore, many derived peptides from C3a, C4a, and C5a in vertebrates exhibit high antibacterial activities without hemolytic activities, demonstrating the potential application in anti-infective therapy.

JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (2022)