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Premature parturition is characterized by in utero activation of the fetal immune system
- Source :
- American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 173:1315-1320
- Publication Year :
- 1995
- Publisher :
- Elsevier BV, 1995.
-
Abstract
- OBJECTIVE: At birth the fetus emerges from a sterile environment into a nonsterile one. This process is associated with activation of the fetal immune system which protects the fetal against infection in the newborn period. We conducted this study to determine whether activation of the monocyte-neutrophil system occurs in fetuses before premature birth. STUDY DESIGN: Forty patients in premature labor with intact membranes underwent cordocentesis for research purposes. Fetal blood was analyzed with the use of flow cytometry to measure the cell surface markers CD11c, CD13, CD15, and CD67, which are associated with monocyte and neutrophil activation, and CD14 and CD63, which were used as controls. RESULTS: Twenty-eight percent ( 11 40 ) of the infants were delivered prematurely within 72 hours of entering the study while the remainder were delivered at term. Our data clearly indicate that premature infants delivered within 72 hours had a higher percentage of CD11c, CD13, CD15, and CD67 than those delivered at term. In contrast, there were no significant differences in the percentages of CD14 and CD63. CONCLUSION: Activation of the monocyte-neutrophil system exists in fetuses destined for premature delivery. These findings indicate that premature parturition is associated with in utero immune system activation.
- Subjects :
- medicine.medical_specialty
Adolescent
Lipopolysaccharide Receptors
Lewis X Antigen
Physiology
Cell Separation
Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins
CD13 Antigens
Neutrophil Activation
Fetus
Obstetric Labor, Premature
Immune system
Antigens, CD
Antigens, Neoplasm
Pregnancy
Immunity
Internal medicine
medicine
Humans
Membrane Glycoproteins
Cluster of differentiation
Tetraspanin 30
business.industry
Monocyte
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Macrophage Activation
Fetal Blood
Flow Cytometry
medicine.disease
Endocrinology
medicine.anatomical_structure
In utero
Premature birth
Female
business
Cell Adhesion Molecules
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 00029378
- Volume :
- 173
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....064d10e4ab3b3830d13e48217964bf24