Imbalance of Amniotic Fluid Activin-A and Follistatin in Intraamniotic Infection, Inflammation, and Preterm Birth.

ABSTRACT:

Context

Microbial invasion of the amniotic fluid (AF) cavity stimulates an inflammatory response that involves activin-A, a pleiotropic mediator member of the TGFβ superfamily involved in connective tissue remodeling. The role of AF follistatin, a natural inhibitor of activin-A, in inflammation-induced preterm birth (PTB), has yet to be determined.

Objective

The objective of the study was to investigate the relationships between AF activin-A and follistatin in physiological gestation and in pregnancies complicated by PTB and to evaluate a possible role played by the activin-A-follistatin balance in processes leading to PTB and preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM).

Study design

The AF levels of total activin-A and follistatin were immunoassayed in 168 women w

SUBMITTER: Hardy JT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6287504 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature