The aim of this study was to establish the role of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) in the intra-amniotic host response of women with spontaneous preterm labor (sPTL) and birth. Amniotic fluid and chorioamniotic membranes (CAM) were collected from women with sPTL who delivered at term (n = 30) or preterm without intra-amniotic inflammation (n = 34), with sterile intra-amniotic inflammation (SIAI, n = 27), or with intra-amniotic infection (IAI, n = 17). Amnion epithelial cells (AEC), Ureaplasma parvum, and Sneathia spp. were also utilized. The expression of TSLP, TSLPR, and IL-7Rα was evaluated in amniotic fluid or CAM by RT-qPCR and/or immunoassays. AEC co-cultured with Ureaplasma parvum or Sneathia spp. were evaluated for TSLP expression by immunofluorescence and/or RT-qPCR. Our data show that TSLP was elevated in amniotic fluid of women with SIAI or IAI and expressed by the CAM. TSLPR and IL-7Rα had detectable gene and protein expression in the CAM; yet, CRLF2 was specifically elevated with IAI. While TSLP localized to all layers of the CAM and increased with SIAI or IAI, TSLPR and IL-7Rα were minimal and became most apparent with IAI. Co-culture experiments indicated that Ureaplasma parvum and Sneathia spp. differentially upregulated TSLP expression in AEC. Together, these findings indicate that TSLP is a central component of the intra-amniotic host response during sPTL.

本研究的目的是确定胸腺基质淋巴细胞生成素 (TSLP) 在自发性早产 (sPTL) 和分娩妇女的羊膜内宿主反应中的作用。羊水和绒毛膜 (CAM) 采集自患有 sPTL 的足月分娩 (n = 30) 或早产但无羊膜内炎症 (n = 34) 和无菌性羊膜内炎症 (SIAI, n = 27) 的女性，或羊膜内感染（IAI，n = 17）。羊膜上皮细胞 (AEC)、微小脲原体和Sneathia spp。也被利用了。通过 RT-qPCR 和/或免疫测定评估羊水或 CAM 中 TSLP、TSLPR 和 IL-7Rα 的表达。AEC 与小脲原体或Sneathia spp共培养。通过免疫荧光和/或 RT-qPCR 评估 TSLP 表达。我们的数据显示，患有 SIAI 或 IAI 的女性羊水中 TSLP 升高，并由 CAM 表达。TSLPR 和 IL-7Rα 在 CAM 中可检测到基因和蛋白表达；然而，CRLF2在 IAI 后显着升高。虽然 TSLP 定位于 CAM 的所有层并随 SIAI 或 IAI 增加，但 TSLPR 和 IL-7Rα 最小且在 IAI 中变得最明显。共培养实验表明，微小脲原体和Sneathia spp。AEC 中TSLP表达差异上调。总之，这些发现表明 TSLP 是 sPTL 期间羊膜内宿主反应的核心组成部分。