New biomarkers for antenatal infection: MICA and MICB gene expression in preterm babies.

The human major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related gene A and B (MICA and MICB) is one of the genes in chromosome 6. As MIC expression is inducible by heat, viral infection, inflammation and DNA damage, the molecules have been thought to be stress markers for the cells. We aimed to find the level of mRNA concentrations of MICA and MICB in neonates without any evidence of early onset infection.