Small Peptides with a Big Role: Antimicrobial Peptides in the Pregnant Female Reproductive Tract

American Journal of Reproductive Immunology : AJRI
Rachel M Tribe

Abstract

There is a growing interest in the role of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in the female reproductive tract during pregnancy. This commentary highlights recent advances in the field including those of Itakoa and colleagues who have demonstrated elafin and secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) expression in cervical cells from pregnant women during pregnancy. They suggest that these specific AMPs may be raised in women in true preterm labour. This complements other studies exploring the use cervico-vaginal fluid elafin and other antimicrobial peptides as biomarkers to predict risk of spontaneous preterm birth early in pregnancy. With continued focus on the contribution and regulation of these important small peptides in pregnancy, the potential of AMPs as clinical tools for identifying women most at risk of spontaneous preterm birth should soon be realised.

References

Sep 17, 2004·Nature Reviews. Microbiology·Robert I Lehrer
Apr 9, 2011·Reproduction : the Official Journal of the Society for the Study of Fertility·Lorraine Frew, Sarah J Stock
Aug 13, 2014·Trends in Immunology·Sarah C MansourRobert E W Hancock
Jan 7, 2015·American Journal of Reproductive Immunology : AJRI·Nao ItaokaTomoyuki Fujii

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jan 11, 2020·Frontiers in Immunology·Chunlei MeiDonghui Huang
Jan 23, 2018·Frontiers in Medicine·Louise C Kenny, Douglas B Kell
Jun 18, 2021·Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology·Taja Železnik RamutaMateja Erdani Kreft

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.