title: Ethnic disparity in amniotic fluid levels of hyaluronan, histone H2B and superoxide dismutase in spontaneous preterm birth.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To document racial disparity in an immune modulator, hyaluronan (HA), an antimicrobial, histone H2B (H2B), and an antioxidant, superoxide dismutase (SOD) in amniotic fluid (AF) from African-American (AA) and Caucasian (C) subjects with spontaneous preterm birth (PTB).
  
  
  METHODS
  In a case (PTB) control (term) study, AF samples were analyzed for HA, H2B and SOD by ELISA. Differences in analyte concentrations between races were documented and a secondary analysis based on histologic chorioamnionitis (HC) was also performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No differences in the median HA, H2B and SOD were seen between cases and controls. AA cases had lower HA but higher H2B and SOD than controls. Analyte concentrations were not different between C cases and controls. AA samples at term had lower H2B and SOD compared to C samples at term. Cases with HC showed higher H2B and SOD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We report ethnic disparity in AF antimicrobial, immune mediator and antioxidant factors. Dysregulated AF production of HA, H2B and SOD was associated with PTB in AA, not in C, suggesting an overwhelming inflammatory response in AA PTB, whereas inflammation is likely a secondary phenomenon in C PTB.
authors.affiliation: Division of Immunology and Infectious Disease, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA. cmherway@gmail.com
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Herway
authors.forename: Tomi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kanninen
authors.forename: Steven S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Witkin
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Saade
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Fortunato
authors.forename: Ramkumar
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Menon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism*; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D006657:Histones; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase