Mini-review: Wound healing of amnion and macrophages.

Preterm prelabor rupture of fetal membranes (pPROM) is a serious problem in obstetrics, especially when it occurs in the periviable period. It is generally considered that once the fetal membranes rupture, preterm birth is inevitable. In a preclinical mouse model of mechanical rupture of the fetal membranes, however, the spontaneous healing of amnion was observed with the assistance of fetal macrophages. The epithelial-mesenchymal transition appears to play a key role in the healing process of amnion. Clarifying the wound-healing mechanism of amnion could provide a basis for the future treatment of pPROM.