Molecular Insight into the Pathogenesis of Spontaneous Preterm Birth
A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409). This special issue belongs to the section "Cellular Pathology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 February 2026 | Viewed by 1795
Special Issue Editor
Interests: preterm birth; placental epigenetics and molecular function; placental transcriptome; placental microbiome; climate change impact of placental function and adverse pregnancy outcomes
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Preterm birth (PTB) is the leading cause of mortality among neonates and children under five years of age. Each year, over 15 million babies are born preterm worldwide, with more than 1 million succumbing to complications, accounting for 35% of all newborn deaths. Furthermore, moderate to late preterm births, which occur more frequently, are associated with an elevated risk of significant cognitive and neurodevelopmental anomalies in early childhood. The majority of preterm births (~70%) occur spontaneously, with no identifiable cause. Although the underlying mechanisms of spontaneous PTB remain poorly understood, several multifactorial risk factors have been implicated, including infections, trophoblast and decidual senescence, impaired placental autophagy, disruptions in maternal–fetal immune tolerance, maternal stress, and uterine vascular disorders. These factors often interact with various epigenetic, genetic, and environmental predispositions. Vaginal dysbiosis, characterized by the replacement of Lactobacillus species with other bacteria such as Gardnerella vaginalis, has also been linked to spontaneous PTB, although the precise mechanisms driving this association remain unclear.
This Special Issue of Cells aims to showcase recent advances in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying preterm birth through a collection of original research articles, reviews, and communications. Topics will include molecular insights into placental dysfunction, maternal stress, fetal factors, vaginal dysbiosis, environmental influences, and other risk factors contributing to the pathogenesis of preterm birth.
Dr. Khondoker M. Akram
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- pathogenesis of preterm birth
- placental dysfunctions in preterm birth
- environmental impacts on placental function in preterm birth
- vaginal dysbiosis in preterm birth
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