Fig. 1

Characterization of the amniotic membrane from the LPS-treated, natural labor (NL), and cesarean section (CS) models. (A) EMT key markers of native AECs were analyzed using immunofluorescence. The mesenchymal marker (N-cadherin) was increased significantly compared with the epithelial marker (E-cadherin) in vaginal delivery, including the LPS-treated model and the NL model. White asterisk: fetal surface of the amnion (n = 3), scale bar = 200 μm. (B) Protein levels of EMT markers in fresh AECs from various sources were measured using western blot analysis (n = 8). (C) Anti-F4/80 antibody was used to assess the numbers of macrophages in uteri in CS and LPS-treated models. (D) Macrophages in amniotic fluid were counted by FCM. Macrophages were recruited in amniotic fluid and the uterus (n = 3). *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001