Possible involvement of inositol phosphoglycan-P in human parturition.
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.
Paine
M A
MA
Department of Molecular Pathology and Immunology, Windeyer Institute of Medical Sciences, University College London, W1T 4JF London, UK.
Rodeck
C H
CH
Williams
P J
PJ
Rademacher
T W
TW
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
D007295:Inositol Phosphates; D011134:Polysaccharides; C028039:inositol phosphate glycan