SAA1 and infection: Based on the current understanding of the role of SAA1 in sterile and non-sterile inflammation as well as the role of fetal membrane source of SAA1 in parturition (12, 16, 18–20), we hypothesized that SAA1 synthesized in the placenta may also take part in parturition by eliciting local pro-inflammatory responses in the presence or absence of infection.