Screening of single nucleotide polymorphism in matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP2) and tetraspanin CD63 genes in Chlamydia trachomatis-infected tubal ectopic pregnancy patients.

OBJECTIVE: Tubal ectopic pregnancy (EP) is a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. Studies have suggested that infection-induced inflammatory responses are major risk factors for EP. The aim of the present study was to find an association between MMP2 and CD63 gene variants and risk of EP during Chlamydia trachomatis infection in an Indian population. METHODS: Fallopian tube samples of 120 EP and 120 tubal ligation women were collected. C. trachomatis was detected by PCR. The genotyping of MMP2 (rs17859882 G/T, rs7201A/C) and CD63(rs2231464 C/T, rs376086542 A/G) gene variants was done by qualitative real-time PCR using allelic discrimination method (VIC- and FAM-labeled). RESULTS: The frequency of GG or GT genotype of MMP2 G/T polymorphism (rs17859882) was 66.6% in infected EP and 36.7% in uninfected EP and 22% in tubal ligation controls (P < 0.0001), while the frequency of AC or CC genotype of MMP2 A/C polymorphism (rs7201) was 66.6% in infected EP and 20.6% in uninfected EP and 13.5% in tubal ligation controls (P < 0.0001). The frequency of CT or TT genotype of CD63 C/T polymorphism (rs2231464) was 74% in infected EP and 21.8% in uninfected EP and 11.8% tubal ligation controls (P < 0.0001), while the frequency of AG or GG genotype of CD63 A/G polymorphism (rs376086542) was 48.1% in infected EP and 41.3% in uninfected EP and 18.6% tubal ligation controls (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The present study revealed a strong association between the presence of gene variants MMP2 (rs17859882 G/T, rs7201A/C) and CD63 (rs2231464 C/T, rs376086542 A/G) and risk of tubal EP during C. trachomatis infection.

Chlamydia trachomatis infection regulates the expression of tetraspanins, activin-A, and inhibin-A in tubal ectopic pregnancy.

Mechanism of Chlamydia trachomatis causing tubal ectopic pregnancy (EP) is not well understood. Tetraspanins (tspans), activin-A, and inhibin-A might play a role in the development of pathological conditions leading to EP. The study aimed to elucidate the expression of tspans, activin-A, and inhibin-A with a role of associated cytokines in C. trachomatis-associated EP and analyze interacting partners of DEGs, with an expression of a few important interacting genes. Fallopian tissue and serum were collected from 100 EP (Group I) and 100 controls (Group II) from SJH, New Delhi, India. Detection of C. trachomatis was done by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and IgG antibodies were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Expression of tspans, activin-A, inhibin-A, and cytokines was analyzed by real time (RT)-PCR and their interacting genes were assessed by STRING. Expression of few disease-associated interacting genes was studied by RT-PCR. A total of 29% (Group I) were C. trachomatis positive. Tspans and activin-A were significantly upregulated, while inhibin-A was significantly downregulated in Group Ia. ITGA1, TLR-2, ITGB2, and Smad-3 were a few interacting genes. Expression of ITGA1, TLR-2, and Smad-3 was significantly upregulated in C. trachomatis-positive EP. Results suggested dysregulated tspans, activin-A, and inhibin-A might play a role in C. trachomatis-infected tubal EP.

Differential expression of matrix metalloproteinases in the fallopian tube of women with Chlamydia trachomatis-associated tubal ectopic pregnancy.

Chlamydia trachomatis is an established risk factor for ectopic pregnancy (EP) in fallopian tube (FT). Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have potential role in disease pathogenesis, however, dysregulation of extracellular matrix by MMPs/TIMPs (tissue inhibitors of MMPs) in infection-associated EP remains unknown. The aim was to study the expression of MMP-2, -9, -14/TIMP-1, -2, -3 in C. trachomatis-positive tubal EP patients. The study comprised of 100 tubal EP (Group I) and 100 tubal ligation patients (Group II; controls) enrolled from Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, VMMC and Safdarjung hospital, New Delhi (India) for collection of FT. Detection of C. trachomatis MOMP was done by PCR while quantitative expression of MMPs/TIMPs was studied by real-time PCR. Data was statistically evaluated by Graphpad prism. Overall, C. trachomatis was found in 18/100 tubal EP patients. After ruling out Neisseria gonnorhoeae and Mycoplasma genitalium, Group I was divided into Group Ia (C. trachomatis DNA-positive) and Group Ib (C. trachomatis DNA-negative; internal controls). Significant upregulation of MMP-2, -9, -14 and downregulated TIMP-1, -2, -3 were found in Group Ia versus controls (Groups Ib/II) (p < 0.05). Fold-change in MMP was significantly higher in Group Ia versus controls ('p' < 0.05). Maximum 5.5-fold upregulation was found in MMP-2. It is apparent by molecular analysis that differential expression of MMPs/TIMPs, particularly enhanced MMP-2 leads to tubal EP in C. trachomatis DNA-positive women.