Dystroglycan in human fetal membranes decreases in later gestation and with spontaneous membrane rupture

Background/Aims: The transmembrane protein dystroglycan (DG) is known to anchor the cell membrane to the extracellular matrix, and is susceptible to cleavage by matrix metalloproteinases. This study tested the hypothesis that changes in DG abundance in fetal membranes (FM) occur late in gestation, with spontaneous rupture of membranes (SROM), and during labor. Methods: FM were collected from a prospective cohort consisting of four groups of patients (term labor, term unlabored, preterm labor, and preterm unlabored). FM were subjected to immunohistochemical staining using antibodies specific for α- and β-DG subunits, and staining intensity was graded by a blinded pathologist. Results: α- and β-DG staining was significantly decreased at term and after SROM (p < 0.05), but not in the presence of labor. Conclusions: Decreased DG intensity was seen in FM of patients at term and with SROM, but no change was observed with labor.