This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Preterm birth is when the fetus is delivered too early, before 37 weeks gestation (normal is 40-42 weeks). This is a major cause of neonatal morbidity and death and occurs in about 12% of all pregnancies in the USA. These babies are also more prone to long term effects, like obesity, diabetes and heart disease, even into adulthood. This disproportionately affects ethnic minorities and they are therefore more likely to suffer the lifelong consequences. Native Hawaiians suffer the highest infant mortality rate, followed by the Filipino population in Hawaii. Alarming data from the March of Dimes organization shows that preterm births in Hawaii increased more than 24% between 1991 and 2001. We have identified a novel protein called Pre B Cell Colony Enhancing Factor (PBEF) which we cloned in 1998 and have continued to work on with support from the Community Foundation of Hawaii. We believe that this unusual molecule is a key player in the program which initiates preterm birth. We are close to demonstrating its role in this process and have now got the personnel in place, the unique reagents and methods available to be able to accomplish a major breakthrough. This will not only provide the clinical community with better understanding, but will allow the development of better methods of preterm labor diagnosis and thus a better chance of prevention. This application addresses one main aim which is designed to establish the mechanism of PBEF action in the fetal membranes to initiate the pathway to preterm labor. These studies will significantly increase our understanding of preterm birth and will lead to some important advances in clinically valuable approaches to its prevention.
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