The nature of the immune response in microbial-associated and sterile intraamniotic inflammation
Book Chapter
Gomez-Lopez, N, Romero, R. (2021). The nature of the immune response in microbial-associated and sterile intraamniotic inflammation
. 207-237. 10.1016/B978-0-12-818508-7.00003-8
Gomez-Lopez, N, Romero, R. (2021). The nature of the immune response in microbial-associated and sterile intraamniotic inflammation
. 207-237. 10.1016/B978-0-12-818508-7.00003-8
The amniotic cavity harbors a unique cellular composition that varies in phenotype and origin from the second trimester to term. Such composition depends on the stimuli present in the amniotic cavity and chorioamniotic membranes: microbes, alarmins, or specific antigens. Microbes and alarmins can induce acute intraamniotic inflammation by activating the inflammasome. Chronic intraamniotic inflammation, however, seems to be mediated by amniotic fluid T-cell chemokines such as CXCL10. In the amniotic cavity, each immune cell subset exhibits specific functions: (1) neutrophils participate in host defense against infection by performing degranulation, phagocytosis, and forming neutrophil extracellular traps; (2) monocytes possess the cellular machinery (e.g., inflammasomes) to process and release proinflammatory cytokines upon sensing of microbes or alarmins; and (3) CD4+ T cells mediate inflammatory processes implicated in a subset of idiopathic preterm labor cases. These findings highlight the nature of the immune response in the amniotic cavity during normal pregnancy and its complications.
