Inflammation in Pregnancy and Childbirth
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Immunology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 August 2025 | Viewed by 411
Special Issue Editors
Interests: nutrition; inflammation; metabolism; diabetes; microbiome; short-chain fatty acids; vitamins
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: SCFA; pregnancy; propionic acid; butyric acid; caproic acid; heptanoic acid; pregnancy disorders; inflammation; hete; hode; arachidonic acid; polycystic ovarian syndrome; endometriosis; preeclampsia; gestational diabetes mellitus
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
This Special Issue of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences on "Inflammation in Pregnancy and Childbirth" is supervised by Dr. Małgorzata Katarzyna Szczuko (Pomeranian Medical University, Poland), Dr. Maciej Ziętek (Pomeranian Medical University, Poland), and Dr. Tomasz Machałowski (Pomeranian Medical University, Poland).
Ovulation, menstruation, embryo implantation, and childbirth involve reactions that constitute short-term inflammatory events. The participation of arachidonic acid mediators in these states is unquestionable. The process of mediator biosynthesis occurs in two stages. In the first stage, the donor cell releases an intermediate eicosanoid; in the second stage, the acceptor cell receives and transforms the intermediate product into a final product, enabling remodeling. The relief of inflammation is therefore crucial for the tissue to return to homeostasis and has become a new scope of research relating to the inflammatory process involving cytokines; prolonged inflammation poses a significant risk of developing diseases based on chronic inflammation. There are many environmental factors that stimulate and enhance inflammatory processes (incorrect diet, low physical activity, obesity, emotional stress, and intestinal dysbiosis).
+ We do not know whether significant weight gain during pregnancy is more burdensome than high pre-pregnancy weight or vice versa.
+ Bacterial endotoxin LPS leads to the activation of immune cells and cytokines (interleukins and tumor necrosis factor—TNF) and a pro-inflammatory cascade (eicosanoids). The enhancement and activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway and nuclear factor kappa-light-enhancer-activated B cell (NF-κB) pathway seem to be the main justification for these changes.
+ Both EPA and DHA derivatives (maresins, resolvins, and protectins) have been found to be involved in mitigating inflammation during pregnancy.
The influence of inflammation-related parameters on the normal course of pregnancy, fetal development, and delivery is the aim of this Special Issue.
Prof. Dr. Małgorzata Szczuko
Dr. Maciej Ziętek
Guest Editors
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Keywords
- pregnancy
- labor
- eicosanoid
- chronic inflammation
- cytokines
- intestinal dysbiosis
- mitogen-activated protein kinase
- nuclear factor kappa-light-enhancer-activated B cell
- maresins, resolvins and protectins
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