While clearly there are major challenges to consider in extrapolating this work to clinical application, we speculate that such TLR4 inhibitors may have particular value as prophylactic agents in threatened preterm labour where increased TLR4 expression disposes to elevated susceptibility, even in the absence of infection60, 61, or when TLR4 SNPs associated with an increased risk of PTD and premature rupture of membranes are identified62, 63. The gene discussed is TLR4; the disease is Bjornstad syndrome.