Extracellular Matrix in Preterm Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes |Biomedgrid

Spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) is a complex health problem that is at the center of intense international collaboration. Detailed understanding of this syndrome is critical to improve related maternal, fetal, newborn health outcomes worldwide. Clinically, the antecedents of sPTB include spontaneous preterm labor (sPTL) or preterm premature rupture of membranes (pPROM), which accounts for one-third of sPTB. The integrity of the amniochorionic membrane is dependent on the extracellular matrix (ECM), which plays a significant role in the function of amnion epithelial cells and the tissue as a whole. ECM proteins mainly include fibronectin, total fibrilar collagens, proteoglycans, hyaluronan, desmoplasia, biglycan and decorin. Abnormalities in the ECM have been related to pPROM, but this link deserves further investigation. In this review, we briefly summarize the components of the ECM, ECM proteins, the functional pathways involving ECM proteins, and their potential role in the pathophysiology of pPROM.