Term labour is a state of physiological inflammation orchestrated by multiple uterine tissues
(both fetal and maternal). This physiological inflammation preceding and accompanying
labour onset is characterized by an increase in cytokine and chemokine secretion by the
fetal membranes, as well as uterine tissues (ie, decidua and myometrium). Pro-inflammatory
cytokines and chemokines activate circulating maternal peripheral leukocytes as well as the
uterine vascular endothelium to permit leukocyte infiltration into the uterus. This …