Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37554329›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in immunology2023

Immune-checkpoint proteins, cytokines, and microbiome impact on patients with cervical insufficiency and preterm birth.

Seri Jeong, Won Kyong Cho, Yeonhwa Jo, Soo-Ran Choi, Nuri Lee, Kibum Jeon, Min-Jeong Park, Wonkeun Song, Keun-Young Lee

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in immunology, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
1.7field-weighted citation impact, top 15% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 8 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Uncovering the role of genetic polymorphisms in cervical insufficiency.International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics · 2026
    Review
  2. Review
  3. Immune checkpoint for pregnancy.Seminars in immunopathology · 2025
    Review
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 5 institutions in 1 country.

Seri JeongDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Won Kyong ChoCollege of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea.
Yeonhwa JoCollege of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea.
Soo-Ran ChoiDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Inha University College of Medicine, Inha University Hospital, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
Nuri LeeDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Kibum JeonDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Min-Jeong ParkDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Wonkeun SongDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Keun-Young LeeDivision of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital · KRSungkyunkwan University · KRHallym University · KRHallym University Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital · KRInha University Hospital · KR

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Microenvironmental factors, including microbe-induced inflammation and immune-checkpoint proteins that modulate immune cells have been associated with both cervical insufficiency and preterm delivery. These factors are incompletely understood. This study aimed to explore and compare interactions among microbiome and inflammatory factors, such as cytokines and immune-checkpoint proteins, in patients with cervical insufficiency and preterm birth. In particular, factors related to predicting preterm birth were identified and the performance of the combination of these factors was evaluated. Methods: A total of 220 swab samples from 110 pregnant women, prospectively recruited at the High-Risk Maternal Neonatal Intensive Care Center, were collected between February 2020 and March 2021. This study included 63 patients with cervical insufficiency receiving cerclage and 47 control participants. Endo- and exocervical swabs and fluids were collected simultaneously. Shotgun metagenomic sequencing for the microbiome and the measurement of 34 immune-checkpoint proteins and inflammatory cytokines were performed. Results: First, we demonstrated that immune-checkpoint proteins, the key immune-regulatory molecules, could be measured in endocervical and exocervical samples. Secondly, we identified significantly different microenvironments in cervical insufficiency and preterm birth, with precise cervical locations, to provide information about practically useful cervical locations in clinical settings. Finally, the presence of Conclusion: Multiple relationships between microbiomes, immune-checkpoint proteins, and inflammatory cytokines in the cervical microenvironment were identified. We focus on these factors to aid in the comprehensive understanding and therapeutic modulation of local microbial and immunologic compositions for the management of cervical insufficiency and preterm birth.

Indexed as

Cervix UteriCytokinesImmune Checkpoint ProteinsMicrobiotaPremature BirthUterine Cervical IncompetenceCerclage, CervicalFemaleHumansPregnancyProspective StudiesCytokinesImmune Checkpoint Proteinscervical insufficiencycervixcytokinesimmune-checkpoint proteinsinflammationmicrobiomepreterm birth

Identifiers

PMID37554329
PMCPMC10404982
OpenAlexW4385223934

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.