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Cytokines in preterm parturition
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soroka Medical Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
We have proposed a model in which the initiation of human parturition in the presence of infection is mediated by the host response. Systemic infections such as pyelonephritis, or localized intrauterine maternal infections such as deciduitis and cervicitis, might trigger parturition via the monocyte/macrophage system in both maternal blood and human decidua. According to this model, labor is to be considered an event that occurs when the intrauterine or maternal environment is hostile to the well-being of the fetus, as was supported by recent studies. From this point of view, the initiation of preterm labor may have survival value.
We have proposed a model in which the initiation of human parturition in the presence of infection is mediated by the host response. Systemic infections such as pyelonephritis, or localized intrauterine maternal infections such as deciduitis and cervicitis, might trigger parturition via the monocyte/macrophage system in both maternal blood and human decidua. According to this model, labor is to be considered an event that occurs when the intrauterine or maternal environment is hostile to the well-being of the fetus, as was supported by recent studies. From this point of view, the initiation of preterm labor may have survival value.