title: Antimicrobial peptides and pregnancy.
abstract: Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are small proteins produced by epithelial surfaces and inflammatory cells, which have broad-spectrum antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activities. They are known to be important in a number of infectious and inflammatory conditions and have been shown to be present in a number of sites throughout the female reproductive tract. Inflammation and infection are associated with a number of complications of pregnancy including preterm labor, and AMPs may play a key role in maintaining and protecting pregnancy. The aim of this review is to describe the expression and function of AMPs in the pregnant female reproductive tract and their relation to preterm labor.
authors.affiliation: MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, The Queens Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, UK.
authors.forename: Lorraine
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Frew
authors.forename: Sarah J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Stock
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000276:immunology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D018836:Inflammation Mediators