Inhibiting granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (gm-csf) prevents preterm birth

Abstract

A method of treating a pregnant female subject includes administering to the pregnant female subject an effective amount of a Granulocyte Macrophage-Colony Stimulating Factor (GM-CSF) inhibitor, wherein the effective amount of the GM-CSF inhibitor is effective to reduce, prevent or delay preterm birth.

1 . A method of treating a pregnant female subject, comprising administering to the pregnant female subject an effective amount of a Granulocyte Macrophage-Colony Stimulating Factor (GM-CSF) inhibitor, wherein the effective amount of the GM-CSF inhibitor is effective to reduce, prevent or delay preterm birth, wherein the GM-CSF inhibitor is a peptide that inhibits the interaction of CM-CSF and its receptor. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein preterm birth is spontaneous preterm birth. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pregnant human female presents to labor and delivery with symptoms of preterm birth. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the female subject is a pregnant human at 20 to 37 weeks of gestation. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the pregnant human female subject is at risk of preterm birth. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the pregnant human female subject at risk of preterm birth has a short cervical length, an infection, a placental anomaly, has had a prior cesarean delivery, has or had uterine fibroids, a connective tissue disorder, is pregnant from in vitro fertilization, diabetes, blood clotting problems, high blood pressure, vaginal bleeding, a personal history of preterm birth, a family history of preterm birth, a previous pregnancy with 18 months of the current pregnancy, a current multi-fetal pregnancy, a uterine abnormality, a cervical abnormality, is overweight before or during pregnancy, is underweight before or during pregnancy, or is carrying a fetus with known birth defects. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the pregnant human female subject at risk of preterm birth is a human woman under the age of 20 or over the age of 35. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the pregnant human female subject at risk of preterm birth is a human woman engaging in smoking, engaging in drinking alcohol, using illegal drugs, with limited or no healthcare during pregnancy, subject to stress, subject to long working hours with long periods of standing, or exposed to environmental pollutants. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising checking the female subject for signs of preterm labor. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein checking the female subject for signs of preterm labor comprises a cervical exam, a transvaginal ultrasound exam, testing for amniotic fluid, or testing for fetal fibronectin. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising administering tocolytic medicines, administering corticosteroids, performing cervical cerclage, and administering antibiotics. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the peptide comprises any one of SEQ ID NOs. 11-16, or a variant with 95% or more homology to any one of SEQ ID NOs. 11-16.