Galectin-1 and Galectin-9 Concentration in Maternal Serum: Implications in Pregnancies Complicated with Preterm Prelabor Rupture of Membranes.

Preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (pPROM) accounts for nearly half of premature births. Although several risk factors have been identified, no markers allowing for effective prevention have been discovered. In this study, we investigated how the maternal serum levels of galectin-1 and galectin-9 change in patients with pPROM in comparison to uncomplicated pregnancies. A total of 75 patients were enrolled to both study and control group (37 vs. 38, respectively). The serum concentration of galectin-1 and galectin-9 were assayed in duplicate using an enzyme-linked immunoassay. All analyses were performed using PQ Stat v. 1.8.4 software. Galectin-1 levels were significantly higher in the controls (13.32 vs. 14.71 ng/mL, p = 0.02). Galectin-9 levels were similar in both groups (13.31 vs. 14.76 ng/mL, p = 0.30). Lower galectin levels were detected for early pPROM (before 32nd GW) in comparison to late pPROM and the controls (8.85 vs. 14.45 vs. 14.71 ng/mL, p = 0.0004). Similar trend was observed in galectin-9 levels, although no statistical significance was found (11.57 vs. 14.25 vs. 14.76 ng/mL, p = 0.26). Low galectin-1 maternal serum level is associated with the incidence of preterm prelabor rupture of membranes. Galectin-9 maternal serum levels were not significantly correlated with pPROM. However, in order to investigate gal-1 and gal-9 levels as potential, promising markers of pPROM, further clinical studies on larger groups are required.

The role of galectins in obstetrics with particular emphasis on premature preterm rupture of membranes.

Premature rupture of membranes (pPROM) affects about 4% of pregnancies and remains the main cause of preterm delivery (PTD). We currently lack a method for screening patients at high risk of pPROM as well as causal treatment for this yet not fully understood pathology of pregnancy. Promising, potential markers are proteins from a family of lectins-galectins. To date, 13 subtypes have been identified in humans. Particular galectins inhibit the mother's immune response to the fetus, thus enabling the maintenance of pregnancy and delivering at term. So far, the role of some galectins has been proven in relation to early pregnancy complications, hypertension and preeclampsia, fetal growth disturbances (including fetuses small for gestational age, fetal growth restriction and macrosomia) and even in physiological processes which occur during healthy pregnancy. In reference to pPROM galectins seem to be linked to pathomechanisms leading to weakening of the structure of membranes and in result their rupture. Examination of galectins appears to be crucial for understanding certain pathologies of pregnancy and gives hope for the effective identification of risk groups and future causal treatment.