Proteome analysis of human amnion and amniotic fluid by two‐dimensional electrophoresis and matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry

Abstract Proteome analysis by 2‐DE and PMF by MALDI‐TOF MS was performed on human amnion and amniotic fluid at term. Ninety‐two soluble and nineteen membrane proteins were identified from amnion. Thirty‐five proteins were identified from amniotic fluid. Calgranulin A and B were found in all patients infected with Ureaplasma urealyticum , but not in any of the patients without infection, indicating that they are potential markers of intrauterine infection. Identity of calgranulin A and B was confirmed by MALDI‐TOF/TOF MS. This study represents the first extensive analysis of the human amnion and amniotic fluid proteome at term and demonstrates that 2‐DE and MALDI‐TOF MS is a useful tool for identifying clinically significant biomarkers of problematic pregnancies.