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Updated: Jul 16, 2026
08:50
A Murine Model of Fetal Exposure to Maternal Inflammation to Study the Effects of Acute Chorioamnionitis on Newborn Intestinal Development
Published on: June 24, 2020
[Interaction between oxidative stress and inflammatory processes in fetal membranes: One Health]
Venus Penélope Velázquez-Esquivel1, Luis Javier Ramírez-Jirano2, Tania Zenteno-Savín3
1Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Unidad de Medicina Familiar No. 40, Servicio de Epidemiología. La Paz, Baja California Sur, México.
Revista Medica Del Instituto Mexicano Del Seguro Social
|July 14, 2026
Summary
Pregnancy health relies on balancing oxidative and inflammatory responses to protect fetal membranes. Imbalances, or the redox-inflammatory axis, increase preterm birth risk, highlighting the need for integrated One Health strategies.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive biology
- Immunology
- Environmental health
Background:
- The fetal membranes, particularly the amnion, are crucial for a healthy pregnancy, regulating maternal-fetal exchange and responding to the uterine environment.
- Pregnancy homeostasis is disrupted by factors like infections (LPS), contaminants, stress, and metabolic issues, leading to increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammation.
- Chronic imbalance between oxidative stress and inflammation creates a 'redox-inflammatory axis', compromising fetal membrane integrity and increasing preterm birth risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the critical role of the redox-inflammatory axis in pregnancy complications.
- To understand how adverse stimuli disrupt the delicate balance of oxidative and inflammatory mechanisms in fetal membranes.
- To investigate the application of a One Health approach for improved maternal-fetal health outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Literature review on oxidative stress, inflammation, and fetal membrane function.
- Analysis of the impact of various adverse stimuli on the redox-inflammatory axis.
- Exploration of the One Health framework for integrating biological, environmental, and social factors.
Main Results:
- Disruption of the oxidative-anti-inflammatory balance leads to increased ROS and pro-inflammatory cytokines.
- The redox-inflammatory axis is linked to structural damage, extracellular matrix degradation, and premature aging of amniotic cells.
- Adverse stimuli significantly elevate the risk of preterm birth due to compromised fetal membrane integrity.
Conclusions:
- Maintaining the balance between oxidative mechanisms and inflammatory responses is vital for successful pregnancy.
- The redox-inflammatory axis is a key pathway contributing to pregnancy complications and preterm birth.
- A One Health perspective offers a comprehensive strategy for understanding and mitigating risks to maternal-fetal health.
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