NCT06891508

The Placental Secretome as a Therapeutic Tool to Prevent Inflammation-induced Preterm Birth

The Placenta-derived Secretome of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells as a Therapeutic Tool to Prevent Inflammation-induced Preterm Birth

• Status: Active Not Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 60 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Preterm birth complicates 10% of all pregnancies and is the leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Intra-amniotic inflammation (IAI) and chorioamnionitis are well-established causes of PTB; however, a treatable infectious trigger is identified in only 50% of cases.In sterile IAI and/or preterm premature rupture of membranes (pPROM), there are currently no effective therapeutic options to reduce inflammation, promote amniotic sac healing, and prevent preterm birth. Growing evidence suggests that the secretome of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) exhibits immunomodulatory and tissue-regenerative properties, making it a promising therapeutic tool for inflammatory disorders. Specifically, the conditioned medium from human amniotic mesenchymal stromal cells (CM-hAMSC) has been successfully used to treat various preclinical inflammatory disease models. The aims of this study will be:1) to evaluate the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in hAM cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from women with PTB. 2)To investigate the effect of CM-hAMSC on NLRP3 activation induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and nigericin in cultured human amniotic epithelial cells (hAECs), amniotic mesenchymal stromal cells (hAMSCs), and PBMCs.

Detailed description

Preterm birth complicates 10% of all pregnancies and is the leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Among all PTB cases, 70% occur spontaneously (SPTB), while the remaining 30% are medically indicated due to severe intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Intra-amniotic inflammation (IAI) and chorioamnionitis are well-established causes of SPTB; however, a treatable infectious trigger is identified in only 50% of cases.In sterile IAI and/or preterm premature rupture of membranes (pPROM), there are currently no effective therapeutic options to reduce inflammation, promote amniotic sac healing, and prevent preterm birth.Recent studies have identified the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in human amniotic membranes (hAM) as a key mechanism in the pathogenesis of SPTB. Targeting NLRP3 as a therapeutic approach for inflammatory diseases is rapidly advancing. Growing evidence suggests that the secretome of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) exhibits immunomodulatory and tissue-regenerative properties, making it a promising therapeutic tool for inflammatory disorders. Specifically, the conditioned medium from human amniotic mesenchymal stromal cells (CM-hAMSC) has been successfully used to treat various preclinical inflammatory disease models. The aims of this study will be:1) to evaluate the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in hAM cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from women with PTB. 2)To investigate the effect of CM-hAMSC on NLRP3 activation induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and nigericin in cultured human amniotic epithelial cells (hAECs), amniotic mesenchymal stromal cells (hAMSCs), and PBMCs.

Conditions

• Preterm Birth

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Venous blood sampling	Venous blood sampling (3 mL) via venipuncture from the antecubital fossa at the time of delivery
OTHER	Tissues sampling	Sampling of the placenta and amniochorionic membranes (hAM) at delivery
OTHER	Umbilical cord blood sampling	Umbilical cord blood sampling from the residual cord attached to the placenta immediately after clamping.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-03-11
• Primary completion: 2026-03-20
• Completion: 2028-03-20
• First posted: 2025-03-24
• Last updated: 2025-03-24

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Italy