Title: Exosomes in cervicovaginal fluid of women at risk of preterm delivery
Funder: Action Medical Research

Abstract: Background_x000D_ Each year over 61,000 babies in the UK are born prematurely and more than 1,000 die as a result of being born too soon. Children who survive preterm birth have an increased risk of cerebral palsy, visual impairment, hearing loss and learning difficulties. There are many reasons why preterm birth happens, but in early preterm births (before 34 weeks of pregnancy) women often have a mild vaginal infection. However, many women with similar infections have straightforward pregnancies suggesting that how a woman's body fights these infections is an important factor in determining the risk of preterm birth. The cells lining the vagina try to protect themselves from infection by releasing exosomes, tiny round structures that contain proteins and other 'biological messages'. Exosomes can help neighbouring cells communicate with each other and mount an immune response to invading bacteria. These researchers want to gain a better understanding of how exosomes work in the reproductive tract and see if there are differences between women who give birth prematurely and women whose pregnancies continue until full term. _x000D_ _x000D_ The research project_x000D_ The team will analyse fluid samples taken from the vaginal and cervical areas in women during early pregnancy. They will compare exosomes and their contents in women who gave birth at full term and women who had a preterm birth. The researchers also plan to investigate how exosomes change the behaviour of vaginal cells grown in the laboratory. Their preliminary research has already identified 25 different biological messages carried in the exosomes of women who went on to have a preterm birth. In this study they hope to identify a specific biological 'finger-print' or biomarker in the exosomes of women most likely to have a preterm birth. This 'finger-print' could be used to develop a test carried out during early pregnancy to identify women most at risk of preterm birth. Early identification would allow these women to have the appropriate care and treatment, hopefully helping to reduce the number of babies born prematurely and provide the best possible outlook for all affected families. _x000D_ _x000D_ Action Medical Research and Borne are jointly funding this research._x000D_

Lay abstract: Background_x000D_ Each year over 61,000 babies in the UK are born prematurely and more than 1,000 die as a result of being born too soon. Children who survive preterm birth have an increased risk of cerebral palsy, visual impairment, hearing loss and learning difficulties. There are many reasons why preterm birth happens, but in early preterm births (before 34 weeks of pregnancy) women often have a mild vaginal infection. However, many women with similar infections have straightforward pregnancies suggesting that how a woman's body fights these infections is an important factor in determining the risk of preterm birth. The cells lining the vagina try to protect themselves from infection by releasing exosomes, tiny round structures that contain proteins and other 'biological messages'. Exosomes can help neighbouring cells communicate with each other and mount an immune response to invading bacteria. These researchers want to gain a better understanding of how exosomes work in the reproductive tract and see if there are differences between women who give birth prematurely and women whose pregnancies continue until full term. _x000D_ _x000D_ The research project_x000D_ The team will analyse fluid samples taken from the vaginal and cervical areas in women during early pregnancy. They will compare exosomes and their contents in women who gave birth at full term and women who had a preterm birth. The researchers also plan to investigate how exosomes change the behaviour of vaginal cells grown in the laboratory. Their preliminary research has already identified 25 different biological messages carried in the exosomes of women who went on to have a preterm birth. In this study they hope to identify a specific biological 'finger-print' or biomarker in the exosomes of women most likely to have a preterm birth. This 'finger-print' could be used to develop a test carried out during early pregnancy to identify women most at risk of preterm birth. Early identification would allow these women to have the appropriate care and treatment, hopefully helping to reduce the number of babies born prematurely and provide the best possible outlook for all affected families. _x000D_ _x000D_ Action Medical Research and Borne are jointly funding this research._x000D_

Research activity codes: 2.1 BIOLOGICAL AND ENDOGENOUS FACTORS;4.1 DISCOVERY AND PRECLINICAL TESTING OF MARKERS AND TECHNOLOGIES
Health categories: REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND CHILDBIRTH