title: Fetal immune response to chorioamnionitis.
abstract: Chorioamnionitis is a frequent cause of preterm birth and is associated with an increased risk for injury responses in the lung, gastrointestinal tract, brain, and other fetal organs. Chorioamnionitis is a polymicrobial nontraditional infectious disease because the organisms causing chorioamnionitis are generally of low virulence and colonize the amniotic fluid often for extended periods, and the host (mother and the fetus) does not have typical infection-related symptoms such as fever. In this review, we discuss the effects of chorioamnionitis in experimental animal models that mimic the human disease. Our focus is on the immune changes in multiple fetal organs and the pathogenesis of chorioamnionitis-induced injury in different fetal compartments. As chorioamnionitis disproportionately affects preterm infants, we discuss the relevant developmental context for the immune system. We also provide a clinical context for the fetal responses.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology/Pulmonary Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati.
authors.forename: Suhas G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Kallapur
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology/Pulmonary Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati.
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Presicce
authors.affiliation: Division of Immunobiology, The Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio.
authors.forename: Cesar M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Rueda
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology/Pulmonary Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati.
authors.forename: Alan H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Jobe
authors.affiliation: Division of Immunobiology, The Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio.
authors.forename: Claire A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Chougnet
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D002821:Chorioamnionitis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000196:embryology / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth; D015398:Signal Transduction; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D013154:Spleen / Q000196:embryology / Q000276:immunology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000196:embryology / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001623:Betamethasone