Investigation of il-6 expression in term and preterm placentas with premature mebrane rupture

Objective: To immunohistochemically determine IL-6 expression in placentas of patients diagnosed with preterm and term premature rupture of membranes (PROM). Materials and Methods: Placentas of 40 healthy patients and 40 preterm and 40 term patients diagnosed with term PROM who gave birth in Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinic of Dicle University were subjected to histological tissue embedding protocol. Hematoxylin Eosin staining and IL-6 immunostaining were performed on tissues. Results: In control group, chorionic villi were in normal structure, syncytiotrophoblasts, cytotrophoblasts, chorionic capillaries and connective tissue were regular, syncytial knots were few with minimal fibrinoid accumulation. In preterm PROM group, histological abnormalities, vascular dilatations, congestion, hemorrhage, edema, fibrinoid accumulation, pyknotic syncytiotrophoblast and cytotrophoblasts, and intervillous immune cells were observed. Vascular dilatation, congestion, intense hemorrhage, increased syncytial knots and fibrinoid accumulation, edema observed in EMR group. IL-6 expression was generally negative in control group however significantly higher in both preterm PROM and term PROM groups, but no significant difference in between preterm and term PROM groups. In preterm PROM group, IL-6 was recorded as positive in areas with cytotrophoblast, syncytiotrophoblast and fibrinoid accumulation, but was negative in villus connective tissue cells and vascular endothelium. In EMR group, intense IL-6 expression was observed in trophoblastic layer, syncytial nodes and fibrinoid accumulation, but was generally negative in villous stromal and vascular endo lial cells. Conclusion: Compared to control group, significant histopathological changes and increased IL-6 expression were observed in preterm PROM and term PROM groups, indicating PROM increased placental inflammation and damage via IL-6.