title: Can carbon monoxide prevent infection-mediated preterm birth in a mouse model?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Preterm birth is frequently caused by intrauterine infection and inflammation. Recent studies have demonstrated that carbon monoxide (CO), which is produced endogenously, has potent anti-inflammatory properties. Whether or not CO can prevent infection-mediated preterm birth is unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mice were assigned to one of four groups: sham infection, sham infection + CO, infection, or infection + CO. Infections were established by intra-uterine injection of Escherichia coli on day 14 of pregnancy. Animals received daily i.p. injections of 1 mL CO-saturated lactated ringers solution (LRS) or LRS alone beginning on the morning of surgery. Gestational age at delivery and litter characteristics was noted. In second experiment, animals were sacrificed 24 hrs post-surgery and tissues were harvested for cytokine analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Escherichia coli intrauterine infection increased the number of animals delivering preterm. This effect was significantly ameliorated by CO-LRS. CO-treatment also increased litter size and weights of the surviving offspring. Cytokines in the amniotic fluid and the placenta were increased by E. coli exposure, but CO had no detectible effect on E. coli-stimulated cytokine production. No effects of CO were detected in sham-infected animals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Supplemental CO improves pregnancy outcome after intrauterine infection and may function at a point downstream of, or through pathways independent of, induction of proinflammatory cytokines.
authors.affiliation: Women and Children's Research Laboratory, Winthrop University Hospital, Mineola, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Morgan R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Peltier
authors.forename: Hschi-Chi
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Koo
authors.forename: Ellen M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Gurzenda
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Arita
authors.forename: Natalia G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Klimova
authors.forename: Niccole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Olgun
authors.forename: Nazeeh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hanna
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D007552:Isotonic Solutions / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051379:Mice; D010920:Placenta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000077325:Ringer's Lactate
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D007552:Isotonic Solutions; D000077325:Ringer's Lactate; D002248:Carbon Monoxide