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Isolation of Leukocytes from the Human Maternal-fetal Interface
Published on: May 21, 2015
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Cytokines in the perinatal period - Part I
A Chau1, J C Markley2, J Juang3
1Division of Obstetric Anesthesia, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
International Journal of Obstetric Anesthesia
|March 14, 2016
Summary
Successful pregnancy relies on immune balance, with cytokines mediating maternal-fetal tolerance. Understanding these immune signals is crucial for improving obstetric anesthesia and managing pregnancy complications.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Obstetrics
- Anesthesiology
Background:
- Successful pregnancy necessitates immune homeostasis, involving maternal tolerance of the fetus.
- Pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines play a key role in mediating this tolerance.
- Cytokines are implicated in various pregnancy-related pathological conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide anesthesiologists with an overview of perinatal cytokines.
- To highlight the role of cytokines in immune tolerance during pregnancy.
- To explore potential research and clinical care improvements related to cytokines in obstetric anesthesia.
Main Methods:
- Review of basic and pregnancy-related immune system elements.
- Emphasis on the function of cytokines in the perinatal period.
- Discussion of maternal temperature elevation during labor epidural analgesia.
Main Results:
- Cytokines are central to maternal-fetal immune interactions.
- Cytokine profiles can be altered in pregnancy-related pathologies.
- Maternal temperature elevation during epidural analgesia is a noted phenomenon.
Conclusions:
- A foundational understanding of cytokines is essential for obstetric anesthesia.
- Further research into cytokine roles can enhance clinical practice.
- Investigating the link between epidural analgesia and maternal temperature is warranted.
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