Anti-inflammatory mediators as physiological and pharmacological regulators of parturition

Increasing evidence highlights parturition as an inflammatory event characterized by leukocyte influx and proinflammatory mediator production in the intrauterine environment. While the mechanisms responsible for the initiation of this inflammatory cascade are not well understood, it is clear that these inflammatory events must be tightly regulated as the premature activation of these inflammatory signals is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as preterm labor, which is the leading cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity. In this article we highlight the importance of anti-inflammatory factors in regulating the inflammatory events surrounding parturition and discuss the use of anti-inflammatory mediators as potential novel therapeutic agents in the treatment of inflammation-induced preterm labor.