The role of complement in preterm birth and prematurity
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Norma Galindo-Sevilla
Abstract
Complications of preterm birth (PTB) are the global leading cause of death in children younger than 5 years of age. Almost 15 million children are born prematurely in the world each year. Increasing evidence suggests that labor and delivery have many hallmarks of an inflammatory reaction, where complement activation has an active participation. As one of the most important components of inflammation, the role of complement during labor and PTB is becoming an attractive research target. The complement components C1q and C5b-9 are deposited on fetal membranes and release inflammatory mediators that contribute to uterine contractions, cervical ripening, cell chemotaxis, metalloproteinases production, membrane awaking and rupture, and it participates as a co-adjuvant in the onset and progress of labor. This article reviews a basic description of the complement system, its role in preterm birth and current concepts regarding its contribution in novel therapy strategies and new biomarkers.
Author contributions: All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.
Research funding: None declared.
Employment or leadership: None declared.
Honorarium: None declared.
Conflicts of interest: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.
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©2019 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Review
- The role of complement in preterm birth and prematurity
- Original Articles – Obstetrics
- Variation in C-reactive protein at 1 month post-partum by etiology of preterm birth: selective identification of those at risk for both poor pregnancy outcome and future health complications
- Procedure related risk of premature delivery and fetal growth reduction following amniocentesis, transcervical and transabdominal chorionic villus sampling: a retrospective study
- Cervical length at 31–34 weeks of gestation: transvaginal vs. transperineal ultrasonographic approach
- The origin of amniotic fluid monocytes/macrophages in women with intra-amniotic inflammation or infection
- Placental elasticity assessment by point shear wave elastography in pregnancies with intrauterine growth restriction
- A 17-years analysis of terminations of pregnancy ≥14 weeks of gestation in a German level 1 perinatal center
- Simulation of an impacted fetal head extraction during cesarean section: description of the creation and evaluation of a new training program
- Academic tweeting in #ObGyn. Where do we stand?
- Original Articles – Fetus
- Fetal heart examination at the time of 13 weeks scan: a 5 years’ prospective study
- Comparison of fetal cardiac functions between small-for-gestational age fetuses and late-onset growth-restricted fetuses
- Original Article – Newborn
- Protocols for early discharging of premature infants: an empirical assessment on safety and savings
- Letter to the Editor
- Maternal blood pressure levels prepartum correlate with neonatal birth weight in preeclampsia
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Review
- The role of complement in preterm birth and prematurity
- Original Articles – Obstetrics
- Variation in C-reactive protein at 1 month post-partum by etiology of preterm birth: selective identification of those at risk for both poor pregnancy outcome and future health complications
- Procedure related risk of premature delivery and fetal growth reduction following amniocentesis, transcervical and transabdominal chorionic villus sampling: a retrospective study
- Cervical length at 31–34 weeks of gestation: transvaginal vs. transperineal ultrasonographic approach
- The origin of amniotic fluid monocytes/macrophages in women with intra-amniotic inflammation or infection
- Placental elasticity assessment by point shear wave elastography in pregnancies with intrauterine growth restriction
- A 17-years analysis of terminations of pregnancy ≥14 weeks of gestation in a German level 1 perinatal center
- Simulation of an impacted fetal head extraction during cesarean section: description of the creation and evaluation of a new training program
- Academic tweeting in #ObGyn. Where do we stand?
- Original Articles – Fetus
- Fetal heart examination at the time of 13 weeks scan: a 5 years’ prospective study
- Comparison of fetal cardiac functions between small-for-gestational age fetuses and late-onset growth-restricted fetuses
- Original Article – Newborn
- Protocols for early discharging of premature infants: an empirical assessment on safety and savings
- Letter to the Editor
- Maternal blood pressure levels prepartum correlate with neonatal birth weight in preeclampsia
