A study on the level of NLRP3 inflammasome in patients with premature rupture of membranes

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we investigated the levels of interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β), IL‐18, and the NOD‐like receptor pyrin domain‐containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in patients with premature rupture of membranes (PROMs). METHODS: We selected 60 pregnant women at the Fourth Hospital of Baotou between January 2019 and July 2021. These women were divided into three distinct groups: the preterm PROM group with 20 cases, term PROM (TPROM) group with 20 cases, and a control group with 20 cases consisting of normal full‐term pregnancies without PROM. Peripheral blood was collected from all participants. Using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, the levels of IL‐1 and IL‐18 in the plasma were assessed. Additionally, the proportions of NLRP3, apoptosis‐associated speck‐like protein (ASC), and caspase‐1‐positive macrophages were also evaluated. RESULTS: The ratios of NLRP3, ASC, IL‐1β, and IL‐18 concentrations, along with the presence of caspase‐1‐positive macrophages, were notably greater in the PROM groups in comparison with the control group (p < .05). In the TPROM group and control group, the proportions of IL‐1β and IL‐18 levels were found to be lower than NLRP3, ASC, and caspase‐1‐positive macrophages levels (p < .05). CONCLUSION: The concentrations of IL‐1β and IL‐18, as well as the ratios of NLRP3, ASC, and caspase‐1‐positive macrophages, were elevated in patients with PROM compared to the control group. This suggests a potential correlation between the excessive activation of NLRP3 and the development of PROM.