Short fetal leukocyte telomere length and preterm prelabor rupture of the membranes |
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Authors: | Menon Ramkumar Yu Jie Basanta-Henry Patrice Brou Lina Berga Sarah L Fortunato Stephen J Taylor Robert N |
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Institution: | Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Perinatal Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, United States of America. ram.menon@utmb.edu |
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Abstract: | BackgroundRupture of the fetal membranes is a common harbinger of imminent labor and delivery. Telomere shortening is a surrogate for oxidative stress (OS) and senescence. Fetal leukocyte and placental membrane DNA telomere lengths were evaluated to determine their association with preterm prelabor rupture of the membranes (pPROM) or spontaneous preterm births with intact membranes (PTB), compared to term birth.MethodsTelomere lengths were quantified in cord blood leukocytes (n?=?133) from three major groups: 1) pPROM (n?=?28), 2) PTB (n?=?69) and 3) uncomplicated full term births (controls, n?=?35), using real-time quantitative PCR. Placental membrane specimens (n?=?18) were used to correlate fetal leukocyte and placental telomere lengths. Telomere length differences among the groups were analyzed by ANOVA. Pearson correlation coefficients determined relationships between leukocyte and placental membrane telomere lengths.ResultsIn pregnancies with intact membranes, fetal leukocyte telomere length was inversely proportional to gestational age. The mean telomere length decreased as gestation progressed, with the shortest at term. pPROM had telomere lengths (9962±3124 bp) that were significantly shorter than gestational age-matched PTB (11546±4348 bp, p?=?0.04), but comparable to term births (9011±2497 bp, p?=?0.31). Secondary analyses revealed no effects of race (African American vs. Caucasian) or intraamniotic infection on telomere length. A strong Pearson''s correlation was noted between fetal leukocyte and placental membrane telomere lengths (ρ?=?0.77; p<0.01).ConclusionsFetal leukocyte telomere length is reduced in pPROM compared to PTB but is similar to term births. pPROM represents a placental membrane disease likely mediated by OS-induced senescence. |
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