@article{3151816,
    title = "Immune Aspects and Myometrial Actions of Progesterone and CRH in Labor",
    author = "Vrachnis, Nikolaos and Malamas, Fotodotis M. and Sifakis, Stavros and and Tsikouras, Panayiotis and Iliodromiti, Zoe",
    journal = "Clinical and Developmental Immunology",
    year = "2012",
    publisher = "HINDAWI LTD",
    issn = "1740-2522, 1740-2530",
    doi = "10.1155/2012/937618",
    abstract = "Progesterone and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) have a critical
role in pregnancy and labor, as changes related to these hormones are
crucial for the transition from myometrial quiescence to contractility.
The mechanisms related to their effect differ between humans and other
species, thus, despite extensive research, many questions remain to be
answered regarding their mediation in human labor. Immune responses to
progesterone and CRH are important for labor. Progesterone acts as an
immunomodulator which controls many immune actions during pregnancy, and
its withdrawal releases the inhibitory action on inflammatory pathways.
In humans, a “functional” progesterone withdrawal occurs with onset
of labor through changes in progesterone metabolism, progesterone
receptors, and other molecules that either facilitate or antagonize
progesterone function. Placental CRH acts on the fetal pituitary-adrenal
axis to stimulate adrenal production of androgens and cortisol and also
acts directly on myometrial cells via its receptors. CRH also affects
inflammatory signals and vice versa. Interactions between progesterone
and CRH additionally occur during labor. We describe the role of these
two hormones in human myometrium and their interactions with the immune
system during labor."
}