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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America logoLink to Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
. 1987 May;84(9):3029–3032. doi: 10.1073/pnas.84.9.3029

Increases of plasma eosinophil major basic protein levels late in pregnancy predict onset of labor.

T L Wasmoen, C B Coulam, K M Leiferman, G J Gleich
PMCID: PMC304794  PMID: 3472249

Abstract

Major basic protein (MBP), the core of the eosinophil granule, is a potent toxin for parasites and mammalian cells; it also causes histamine release from mast cells and basophils. Plasma levels of MBP are increased in all pregnant women, and MBP has been localized by immunofluorescence to placental X cells and placental-site giant cells. Analyses of plasma MBP levels during pregnancy showed a striking correlation between increases late in the third trimester and spontaneous onset of labor. In one case with premature labor, the plasma MBP level also was increased coincidentally with labor. In contrast, in cases of prolonged gestation in which labor was induced, there were no late increases in MBP levels. Also, uterine contraction during spontaneous labor or oxytocin-induced labor did not cause elevations of plasma MBP. Measurement of plasma MBP levels in pregnancy may be useful for the prediction of labor and for the development of new means of intervention for premature labor and prolonged gestation.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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