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Life
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Recent Advances in the Role of Immunity and Inflammation in...
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Recent Advances in the Role of Immunity and Inflammation in Pregnancy and Parturition

A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Reproductive and Developmental Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2022) | Viewed by 13172

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Emmanuel Amabebe

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Oncology & Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry & Health, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
Interests: pathophysiology of preterm birth; reproductive and developmental medicine; endocrinology and metabolism
Dr. Nadia Ikumi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
Interests: pregnancy; placenta; immunology; pathology; HIV

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Maternal and foetal immune tolerance is a requisite for a successful pregnancy. The eventual outcome of pregnancy is mostly dependent on the maternal tolerance of the ‘foreign’ antigens on foetal tissues. Human parturition (labour) is akin to an inflammatory response mediated by chemocytokines produced by infiltrating and resident immunocompetent cells into gestational tissues at the foetomaternal interface, cervix and foetus. Both innate and adaptive immune cells facilitate the physiological and sometimes pathological activation of the pathway to parturition. Disruption of the foetomaternal tolerance activates immune responses that lead to labour at term or preterm. Foetomaternal tolerance during pregnancy is maintained by adaptive immune cells including T and B lymphocytes, whereas innate immune cells including neutrophils, macrophages and mast cells mediate the process of labour by secreting inflammatory mediators such as chemocytokines, matrix-degrading enzymes and contraction-associated proteins. The immune homeostasis during pregnancy is also regulated by hormones such as progesterone and oestrogen.

This Special Issue provides a broad medium to disseminate new ideas and information on the roles of immune mediators and inflammation in labour at term or preterm. It welcomes submissions reporting factors and mechanisms that maintain or disrupt immune homeostasis during pregnancy. The anticipated article types include, but are not limited to, original research, systematic and narrative reviews, case reports, and theoretical perspectives and opinions.

Dr. Emmanuel Amabebe
Dr. Nadia Ikumi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Life is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • parturition
  • labour
  • immunity
  • inflammation
  • preterm birth
  • cytokines
  • immune tolerance
  • immune cells
  • foetomaternal

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Review

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18 pages, 2455 KiB  
Review
The Role of Neutrophils in Pregnancy, Term and Preterm Labour
by Belen Gimeno-Molina, Ingrid Muller, Pascale Kropf and Lynne Sykes
Life 2022, 12(10), 1512; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12101512 - 28 Sep 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 6322
Abstract
Neutrophils are surveillance cells, and the first to react and migrate to sites of inflammation and infection following a chemotactic gradient. Neutrophils play a key role in both sterile inflammation and infection, performing a wide variety of effector functions such as degranulation, phagocytosis, [...] Read more.
Neutrophils are surveillance cells, and the first to react and migrate to sites of inflammation and infection following a chemotactic gradient. Neutrophils play a key role in both sterile inflammation and infection, performing a wide variety of effector functions such as degranulation, phagocytosis, ROS production and release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Healthy term labour requires a sterile pro-inflammatory process, whereas one of the most common causes of spontaneous preterm birth is microbial driven. Peripheral neutrophilia has long been described during pregnancy, and evidence exists demonstrating neutrophils infiltrating the cervix, uterus and foetal membranes during both term and preterm deliveries. Their presence supports a role in tissue remodelling via their effector functions. In this review, we describe the effector functions of neutrophils. We summarise the evidence to support their role in healthy pregnancy and labour and describe their potential contribution to microbial driven preterm birth. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in the Role of Immunity and Inflammation in Pregnancy and Parturition)
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Other

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13 pages, 669 KiB  
Systematic Review
Risk Factors, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Neonatal Fungal Liver Abscess: A Systematic Review of the Literature
by Paschalia Kopanou Taliaka, Andreas G. Tsantes, Aikaterini Konstantinidi, Dimitra Houhoula, Konstantina A. Tsante, Aristeidis G. Vaiopoulos, Daniele Piovani, Georgios K. Nikolopoulos, Stefanos Bonovas, Nicoletta Iacovidou, Argirios E. Tsantes and Rozeta Sokou
Life 2023, 13(1), 167; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13010167 - 6 Jan 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1949
Abstract
(1) Background: Although invasive fungal infections are a major cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality, data on the incidence and outcomes of localized abscesses in solid organs due to fungal infections are scarce. The aim of this study was to consolidate evidence and [...] Read more.
(1) Background: Although invasive fungal infections are a major cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality, data on the incidence and outcomes of localized abscesses in solid organs due to fungal infections are scarce. The aim of this study was to consolidate evidence and enhance our understanding on neonatal liver abscesses due to invasive fungal infections. (2) Methods: An electronic search of the PubMed and Scopus databases was conducted, considering studies that evaluated fungal liver abscesses in the neonatal population. Data on the epidemiology, clinical course, treatment, and outcome of these infections were integrated in our study. (3) Results: Overall, 10 studies were included presenting data on 19 cases of neonatal fungal liver abscesses. Candida spp. were the most common causative pathogens (94.7%). Premature neonates constituted the majority of cases (93%), while umbilical venous catheter placement, broad spectrum antibiotics, and prolonged parenteral nutrition administration were identified as other common predisposing factors. Diagnosis was established primarily by abdominal ultrasonography. Medical therapy with antifungal agents was the mainstay of treatment, with Amphotericin B being the most common agent (47%). Abscess drainage was required in four cases (21%). Eradication of the infection was achieved in the majority of cases (80%). (4) Conclusions: Even though fungal liver abscess is a rare entity in the neonatal population, clinicians should keep it in mind in small, premature infants who fail to respond to conventional treatment for sepsis, particularly if an indwelling catheter is in situ. A high index of suspicion is necessary in order to achieve a timely diagnosis and the initiation of the appropriate treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in the Role of Immunity and Inflammation in Pregnancy and Parturition)
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15 pages, 1712 KiB  
Case Report
Rhombencephalitis in Pregnancy—A Challenging Case of Probable Listeria Infection
by Alison E. P. Ho, Zahirrah B. M. Rasheed, James Norman, Carolyn Gabriel, Luke Dixon, Simon Ashworth, Charlotte Frise, Christina K. H. Yu and Lynne Sykes
Life 2022, 12(10), 1600; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12101600 - 14 Oct 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1604
Abstract
Rhombencephalitis refers to inflammation of the brainstem and cerebellum, and can be caused by infections, autoimmune disorders or paraneoplastic syndromes. The most common infective cause is the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria monocytogenes is the predominant species to cause human listeriosis, and is [...] Read more.
Rhombencephalitis refers to inflammation of the brainstem and cerebellum, and can be caused by infections, autoimmune disorders or paraneoplastic syndromes. The most common infective cause is the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria monocytogenes is the predominant species to cause human listeriosis, and is commonly due to the ingestion of contaminated foods. Symptoms include a mild gastroenteritis, fever (often with extreme temperature variations), headache, and myalgia. In more severe cases, invasive disease may lead to bacteraemia and neurolisteriosis. Pregnant women are more susceptible to listeriosis, which is believed to be due to pregnancy-related immune modulation. Maternal-neonatal infection with adverse pregnancy outcomes include neonatal listeriosis, spontaneous miscarriage and intrauterine fetal demise. Diagnosis may be challenging due to initial nonspecific symptoms and low sensitivity and specificity of confirmatory diagnostic laboratory tests. Here, we describe a case of rhombencephalitis in pregnancy, attributed to Listeria, and review the clinical features, diagnosis and multidisciplinary management. Lastly, we describe the immunological response to Listeria monocytogenes and show in vitro pro-inflammatory effects of Listeria monocytogenes on peripheral blood mononuclear cells and placental explants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in the Role of Immunity and Inflammation in Pregnancy and Parturition)
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14 pages, 965 KiB  
Systematic Review
Maternal Obesity as a Risk Factor for Caesarean Delivery in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review
by Jessica B. Brizan and Emmanuel Amabebe
Life 2022, 12(6), 906; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12060906 - 17 Jun 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2264
Abstract
Background: Maternal obesity is associated with several adverse reproductive outcomes. It is a growing public health burden in sub-Saharan Africa, a region with low resources and capacity to care for the large, affected population. Objectives: To assess the evidence of maternal obesity as [...] Read more.
Background: Maternal obesity is associated with several adverse reproductive outcomes. It is a growing public health burden in sub-Saharan Africa, a region with low resources and capacity to care for the large, affected population. Objectives: To assess the evidence of maternal obesity as a risk factor for caesarean delivery in women in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: A systematic review of relevant original articles using PubMed, MEDLINE, and CINAHL was performed. Google Scholar and the reference lists of relevant systematic reviews and meta-analyses were also searched for other eligible studies. Observational studies assessing maternal body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m2 before or during gestation and caesarean delivery as birth outcome were included. Results: All 17 studies were published between 2009 and 2021 and included 227,675 (236–153,102) participants. The prevalence of maternal obesity ranged from 3.9 to 44%. All except two studies (88%) indicated an association of obesity and risk of caesarean delivery in pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa. Overweight/obese women had up to 4-fold increased risk of caesarean delivery compared to normal weight women. Three studies also reported a direct relationship between morbid obesity and prevalence of caesarean delivery in the sub-region. The risk of caesarean delivery appears to increase with increasing BMI e.g., >5 times in women with BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2 than in normal weight women. Conclusions: In sub-Saharan Africa, increased BMI in pregnancy is a risk factor for subsequent caesarean delivery. The risk of caesarean delivery appears to increase with increasing BMI. A robust meta-analysis and other patho-mechanistic studies can be conducted to confirm causal association. Culturally appropriate weight management and nutritional interventions should be implemented to reduce the incidence of obesity-induced caesarean delivery in sub-Saharan Africa. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in the Role of Immunity and Inflammation in Pregnancy and Parturition)
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