Immunological Aspects of Preterm Birth

Immunological Aspects of Preterm Birth: Phenotypes of Preterm Birth, Immune Mechanisms, and Pathway Forward bridges reproductive immunology of preterm birth to subtypes, phenotypes, and bedside prevention and treatment. The book reviews the role of the different immune mechanisms during pregnancy that lead to preterm birth, along with the fetal programming effects that are connected to maternal immune activation. In addition, it discusses immune cells and their products and cytokines and chemokines as central for the success of the pregnancy. While our knowledge on the role of immune cells and the inflammatory process in preterm birth has grown exponentially in the last 10 years, connecting basic science to clinical science and the development of new therapeutics has not progressed as rapidly. This book assists researchers in understanding the basic immunologic mechanisms and inflammatory processes associated with preterm birth and fills an urgent need for the development of therapeutics in this space.

• Provides a detailed evaluation of preterm birth subtypes and phenotype
• Evaluates each immune cell type and its function in maternal peripheral system, placenta, and fetus
• Gives the biological background for understanding the clinical aspects, including treatment venues and effects on fetal programming