Global gene expression profiling in human cervical fibroblasts in the absence or presence of progesterone and/or interleukin-1 beta.

Preterm birth is an important unsolved clinical problem. Despite advanced treatments, infants who survive prematurity remain at increased risk for permanent disabilities. In approximately one-third of cases, prematurity is related to infection and/or inflammation, which renders hostile the normally receptive intrauterine environment. Proinflammatory cytokines provoke up-regulation of genes that promote uterine contractions. Using monolayer cultures of human cervical fibroblast cells as a model, we profiled the global pattern of gene expression in response to cytokine challenge.

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Kniss DA, Summerfield TL