title: Possible involvement of inositol phosphoglycan-P in human parturition.
abstract: Preterm labour is a major cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality but the pathophysiology that underlies preterm labour is unknown. Inositolphosphoglycans (IPGs) comprise a ubiquitous family of putative carbohydrate second messengers and they have been linked to the pathogenesis of various conditions, including diabetes and pre-eclampsia. Studying IPG-P levels in normal and pre-eclamptic pregnancies, we noticed a constant rise of urinary IPG-P levels in all women at the time of delivery. A prospective pilot study of urinary IPG-P levels in 23 non-labouring and labouring women with uncomplicated pregnancies has, therefore, been performed. Levels of urinary IPG-P were significantly higher in labour than in the non-labouring group (P<0.0001). These higher levels have been found in both spontaneous and induced labour. The clinical significance of this observation with particular reference to the onset of labour itself is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Pathology and Immunology, Windeyer Institute of Medical Sciences, University College London, W1T 4JF London, UK.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Paine
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Rodeck
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Rademacher
mesh_terms: D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007295:Inositol Phosphates / Q000652:urine*; D007751:Labor, Induced; D036801:Parturition / Q000652:urine*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000652:urine*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D007295:Inositol Phosphates; D011134:Polysaccharides; C028039:inositol phosphate glycan