Amount and distribution of selected biologically active factors in amniotic membrane depends on the part of amnion and mode of childbirth. Can we predict properties of amnion dressing? A proof-of-concept study

Aim of the study: The amniotic membrane is used as a dressing material e.g. in ocular surgery or treatment of non-healing wounds. Noteworthy, results of previous studies differ significantly, presumably due to biological properties of amnion. Some authors suggest that these properties may depend on inter-donor variations, as well as method of delivery. The aim of our study was to analyze the content of selected factors important for tissue regeneration in various areas of amnion samples originating from elective cesarean sections and on-term natural deliveries.

Material and methods: Cervical and placental samples of amniotic membranes originating from physiological deliveries and cesarean sections have been collected with subsequent preparation of amniotic membrane extracts. The screening of amnion samples was performed using proteome microarray system.

Results: In all of the amnion samples high amounts of angiogenin, IGF-binding proteins-1, -2 and -3, serine protease inhibitor E1 and TIMP-1 have been detected. Important variations in the content of these factors have been observed between physiological delivery and cesarean section-derived membranes, as well as between placental and cervical portions of the same membrane.

Conclusions: Our study has shown that the content of selected growth factors and regulators of ECM turnover in amniotic membrane samples vary between various donations, as well as depend on region of membrane or delivery method. This may determine its potential applications in wound treatment and ophthalmologic surgery. However, our observations require further verification in clinical settings.