A New Approach to Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Signaling during Labour in Healthy Mothers and Neonates

Abstract

The objective of the current study was to investigate for the first time and simultaneously the oxidative stress and inflammatory signaling induced during the delivery in healthy mothers and their neonates. 56 mothers with normal gestational course and spontaneous delivery were selected. Blood samples were taken from mother (before and after delivery) both from vein and artery of umbilical cord. Lower antioxidant enzymes activities were observed in neonates compared with their mothers and lower oxidative stress in umbilical cord artery with respect to vein. There was an overexpression of inflammatory cytokines in the mother, such as IL-6 and TNF-α, and, in addition, PGE2 was also increased. Neonates showed lower levels of IL-6 and TNF-α and higher values of sTNF-RII and PGE2 in comparison with their mothers. Parturition increases oxidative damage in the mother, although the indicators of oxidative damage were lower in umbilical cord artery with respect to umbilical vein. The overexpression of inflammatory cytokines reveals that fetus suffers its own inflammatory process during parturition.

Gestational Age and the Cord Blood Lipidomic Profile in Late Preterm and Term Infants

“…The association between gestation and lipids was adjusted for exposure to labour. Labour is associated with increased inflammatory markers in cord blood [13], and lipid species change with inflammation [14]. This adjustment had minimal effect on findings.…”

Gender specific differences in oxidative stress and inflammatory signaling in healthy term neonates and their mothers

“…To protect against this source of free radicals and against others sources that show an increased activity during birth, the organism have an efficient antioxidant system (1,2). However, when reactive oxygen species (ROS) faced with an inadequate antioxidant defense, these molecules disrupt cell integrity and cause tissue injury (2).…”

“…Parturition has been identified as a source of proinflammatory mediators such as metabolites of arachidonic acid (prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 )) and cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and interleukin 6 (IL-6). These mediators are potent stimulators for the production of ROS and in turn free radicals recruit inflammatory signalers in a vicious circle (2).…”

“…It has been established that an excessive and/or sustained increase in free radical production associated with diminished efficacy of the antioxidant defense systems result in oxidative stress, which occurs in many pathologic processes and contributes significantly to disease mechanisms (2). It is reasonable to suggest that oxidative stress would be the key link between an adverse prenatal environment and increased morbidity later in life.…”

Comparison of Cesarean Section and Normal Vaginal Delivery Using Entonox Inhalation in Terms of Oxidative Stress Indices in Newborns and Mothers

“…Many factors in pregnancy and childbirth affect the oxidative stress in mothers and infants including number of deliveries (27), and mothers' illnesses such as diabetes (28) and preeclampsia (29,30). It should be mentioned that the above factors were among the exclusion criteria of the study to assess the influence of delivery with an emphasis on painless vaginal delivery without intervention.…”