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Krupa P, Wein H, Zemmrich LS, Zygmunt M, Muzzio DO. Pregnancy-related factors induce immune tolerance through regulation of sCD83 release. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1452879. [PMID: 39328416 PMCID: PMC11424458 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1452879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 08/21/2024] [Indexed: 09/28/2024] Open
Abstract
A well-balanced maternal immune system is crucial to maintain fetal tolerance in case of infections during pregnancy. Immune adaptations include an increased secretion of soluble mediators to protect the semi-allogeneic fetus from excessive pro-inflammatory response. B lymphocytes acquire a higher capacity to express CD83 and secrete soluble CD83 (sCD83) upon exposure to bacteria-derived components such as LPS. CD83 possesses immune modulatory functions and shows a promising therapeutic potential against inflammatory conditions. The administration of sCD83 to pregnant mice reduces LPS-induced abortion rates. The increased CD83 expression by endometrial B cells as compared to peripheral blood B cells suggests its modulatory role in the fetal tolerance, especially in the context of infection. We postulate that in pregnancy, CD83 expression and release is controlled by pregnancy-related hormones. The intra- and extracellular expression of CD83 in leukocytes from peripheral blood or decidua basalis and parietalis at term were analyzed by flow cytometry. After treatment with pregnancy-related hormones and LPS, ELISA and qPCR were performed to study sCD83 release and CD83 gene expression, respectively. Cleavage prediction analysis was used to find potential proteases targeting CD83. Expression of selected proteases was analyzed by ELISA. Higher levels of CD83 were found in CD11c+ dendritic cells, CD3+ T cells and CD19+ B cells from decidua basalis and decidua parietalis after LPS-stimulation in vitro. An increase of intracellular expression of CD83 was also detected in CD19+ B cells from both compartments. Stimulated B cells displayed significantly higher percentages of CD83+ cells than dendritic cells and T cells from decidua basalis and peripheral blood. Treatment of B lymphocytes with pregnancy-related molecules (E2, P4, TGF-β1 and hCG) enhanced the LPS-mediated increase of CD83 expression, while dexamethasone led to a reduction. Similarly, the release of sCD83 was increased under TGF-β1 treatment but decreased upon dexamethasone stimulation. Finally, we found that the hormonal regulation of CD83 expression is likely a result from a balance between gene transcription from CD83 and the modulation of the metalloproteinase MMP-7. Thus, data supports and complements our previous murine studies on hormonal regulation of CD83 expression, reinforcing its immunomodulatory relevance in anti-bacterial responses during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Damián Oscar Muzzio
- Research Laboratory, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medicine
Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
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2
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Wang J, Han T, Zhu X. Role of maternal-fetal immune tolerance in the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. Chin Med J (Engl) 2024; 137:1399-1406. [PMID: 38724467 PMCID: PMC11188918 DOI: 10.1097/cm9.0000000000003114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Normal pregnancy is a contradictory and complicated physiological process. Although the fetus carries the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) inherited from the paternal line, it does not cause maternal immune rejection. As the only exception to immunological principles, maternal-fetal immune tolerance has been a reproductive immunology focus. In early pregnancy, fetal extravillous trophoblast cells (EVTs) invade decidual tissues and come into direct contact with maternal decidual immune cells (DICs) and decidual stromal cells (DSCs) to establish a sophisticated maternal-fetal crosstalk. This study reviews previous research results and focuses on the establishment and maintenance mechanism of maternal-fetal tolerance based on maternal-fetal crosstalk. Insights into maternal-fetal tolerance will not only improve understanding of normal pregnancy but will also contribute to novel therapeutic strategies for recurrent spontaneous abortion, pre-eclampsia, and premature birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710038, China
- Center for Mitochondrial Biology and Medicine, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710049, China
| | - Tao Han
- Department of Orthopedics, Hainan Branch of PLA General Hospital, Sanya, Hainan 572013, China
| | - Xiaoming Zhu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710038, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Hainan Branch of PLA General Hospital, Sanya, Hainan 572013, China
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3
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Andreescu M. Correlation Between Maternal-Fetus Interface and Placenta-Mediated Complications. Cureus 2024; 16:e62457. [PMID: 38882223 PMCID: PMC11180486 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.62457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy is a highly regulated biological phenomenon that involves the development of a semi-allogeneic fetus inside the uterus of the mother. The maternal-fetal interface is a critical junction where communication takes place between the fetal and maternal immune systems, which determine the outcome of the pregnancy. The interface is composed of the decidua and placenta. The main cells present at the maternal-fetal interface include invading trophoblasts, maternal immune cells, and decidual stromal cells. Although maternal tolerance is crucial for maintaining a successful pregnancy, the role of the placenta in pregnancy is also important. Dysregulation of the placenta leads to various placenta-mediated complications, such as preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, and placental abruption. Although the exact mechanism involving these complications is unclear, research has elucidated various factors involved in these pregnancy disorders. This review aimed to provide a summary of the maternal-fetal interface and immune mechanisms involved in placenta-mediated complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihaela Andreescu
- Faculty of Medicine, Titu Maiorescu University, Bucharest, ROU
- Hematology, Colentina Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, ROU
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4
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Konecny AJ, Huang Y, Setty M, Prlic M. Signals that control MAIT cell function in healthy and inflamed human tissues. Immunol Rev 2024; 323:138-149. [PMID: 38520075 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells have a semi-invariant T-cell receptor that allows recognition of antigen in the context of the MHC class I-related (MR1) protein. Metabolic intermediates of the riboflavin synthesis pathway have been identified as MR1-restricted antigens with agonist properties. As riboflavin synthesis occurs in many bacterial species, but not human cells, it has been proposed that the main purpose of MAIT cells is antibacterial surveillance and protection. The majority of human MAIT cells secrete interferon-gamma (IFNg) upon activation, while some MAIT cells in tissues can also express IL-17. Given that MAIT cells are present in human barrier tissues colonized by a microbiome, MAIT cells must somehow be able to distinguish colonization from infection to ensure effector functions are only elicited when necessary. Importantly, MAIT cells have additional functional properties, including the potential to contribute to restoring tissue homeostasis by expression of CTLA-4 and secretion of the cytokine IL-22. A recent study provided compelling data indicating that the range of human MAIT cell functional properties is explained by plasticity rather than distinct lineages. This further underscores the necessity to better understand how different signals regulate MAIT cell function. In this review, we highlight what is known in regards to activating and inhibitory signals for MAIT cells with a specific focus on signals relevant to healthy and inflamed tissues. We consider the quantity, quality, and the temporal order of these signals on MAIT cell function and discuss the current limitations of computational tools to extrapolate which signals are received by MAIT cells in human tissues. Using lessons learned from conventional CD8 T cells, we also discuss how TCR signals may integrate with cytokine signals in MAIT cells to elicit distinct functional states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Konecny
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Yin Huang
- Basic Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Herbold Computational Biology Program, Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Manu Setty
- Basic Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Herbold Computational Biology Program, Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Martin Prlic
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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5
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Joseph TT, Schuch V, Hossack DJ, Chakraborty R, Johnson EL. Melatonin: the placental antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1339304. [PMID: 38361952 PMCID: PMC10867115 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1339304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is an indolamine hormone with many physiological and biological roles. Melatonin is an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, free radical scavenger, circadian rhythm regulator, and sleep hormone. However, its most popular role is the ability to regulate sleep through the circadian rhythm. Interestingly, recent studies have shown that melatonin is an important and essential hormone during pregnancy, specifically in the placenta. This is primarily due to the placenta's ability to synthesize its own melatonin rather than depending on the pineal gland. During pregnancy, melatonin acts as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, which is necessary to ensure a stable environment for both the mother and the fetus. It is an essential antioxidant in the placenta because it reduces oxidative stress by constantly scavenging for free radicals, i.e., maintain the placenta's integrity. In a healthy pregnancy, the maternal immune system is constantly altered to accommodate the needs of the growing fetus, and melatonin acts as a key anti-inflammatory by regulating immune homeostasis during early and late gestation. This literature review aims to identify and summarize melatonin's role as a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory that reduces oxidative stress and inflammation to maintain a favorable homeostatic environment in the placenta throughout gestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyana T. Joseph
- Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Viviane Schuch
- Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Daniel J. Hossack
- Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Rana Chakraborty
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Erica L. Johnson
- Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
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El-Badawy O, Abbas AM, Radwan E, Makboul R, Khamis AA, Ali M, Elkabsh MM, Bakr MH, Zahran AM. Cross-Talk between Mucosal-Associated Invariant T, Natural Killer, and Natural Killer T Cell Populations is Implicated in the Pathogenesis of Placenta Accreta Spectrum. Inflammation 2023:10.1007/s10753-023-01799-1. [PMID: 36997764 PMCID: PMC10359234 DOI: 10.1007/s10753-023-01799-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023]
Abstract
The study included 32 women with PAS and 20 with normally implanted placenta as a control group. Vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF), Soluble FMS Like Tyrosine Kinase (sFLT-1/sVEGFR1), and Endoglin (ENG) were measured in placenta tissue by ELISA. Granzyme B (GrzB) expression in trophoblastic and stromal mesenchymal cells was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. MAIT, NK, and NKT cells were assessed in blood and placenta by flow cytometry. Alterations were observed in levels of MAIT cells, NK cell subsets, and NKT cells in patients compared with controls. Several significant correlations were detected between these cells and GrzB scores, VEGF, ENG, and sFLT-1 levels. This is the first study analysing these cells in PAS patients and correlating their levels with changes in some angiogenic and antiangiogenic factors implicated in trophoblast invasion and with GrzB distribution in trophoblast and stroma. Interrelation between these cells probably plays an important role in pathogenesis of PAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omnia El-Badawy
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, 71515, Egypt.
| | - Ahmed M Abbas
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Eman Radwan
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
- Department of Biochemistry, Sphinx University, New Assiut, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Rania Makboul
- Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Areej A Khamis
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Maha Ali
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Mai M Elkabsh
- Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Marwa H Bakr
- Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Asmaa M Zahran
- Department of Clinical Pathology, South Egypt Cancer Institute, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
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7
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Vikberg S, Lindau R, Solders M, Raffetseder J, Budhwar S, Ernerudh J, Tiblad E, Kaipe H. Labour promotes systemic mobilisation of monocytes, T cell activation and local secretion of chemotactic factors in the intervillous space of the placenta. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1129261. [PMID: 36969250 PMCID: PMC10030611 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1129261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
During pregnancy, maternal blood circulates through the intervillous space of the placenta and the reciprocal interactions between foetal tissues and maternal immune cells makes the intervillous space a unique immunological niche. Labour is characterised by a proinflammatory response in the myometrium, but the relationship between local and systemic changes during the onset of labour remains elusive. We here aimed to investigate how the systemic and intervillous circulatory systems are affected during labour from an immunological point of view. We report that the proportion of monocytes is dramatically higher in peripheral (PB), intervillous blood (IVB) and decidua in labouring (n = 14) compared to non-labouring women (n = 15), suggesting that labour leads to both a systemic and local mobilisation of monocytes. Labour was associated with a relative increase of effector memory T cells in the intervillous space compared to the periphery, and MAIT cells and T cells showed an elevated expression of activation markers both in PB and IVB. Intervillous monocytes consisted to a higher degree of CD14+CD16+ intermediate monocytes compared to peripheral monocytes, independently of mode of delivery, and displayed an altered phenotypic expression pattern. A proximity extension assay analysis of 168 proteins revealed that several proteins associated to myeloid cell migration and function, including CCL2 and M-CSF, were upregulated in IVB plasma in labouring women. Thus, the intervillous space could be a bridging site for the communication between the placenta and the periphery, which contribute to monocyte mobilisation and generation of inflammatory reactions during spontaneous labour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Vikberg
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Robert Lindau
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Martin Solders
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Johanna Raffetseder
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Snehil Budhwar
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Jan Ernerudh
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, and Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Eleonor Tiblad
- Center for Fetal Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Helen Kaipe
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- *Correspondence: Helen Kaipe,
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8
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Miller D, Garcia-Flores V, Romero R, Galaz J, Pique-Regi R, Gomez-Lopez N. Single-Cell Immunobiology of the Maternal-Fetal Interface. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2022; 209:1450-1464. [PMID: 36192116 PMCID: PMC9536179 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2200433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Pregnancy success requires constant dialogue between the mother and developing conceptus. Such crosstalk is facilitated through complex interactions between maternal and fetal cells at distinct tissue sites, collectively termed the "maternal-fetal interface." The emergence of single-cell technologies has enabled a deeper understanding of the unique processes taking place at the maternal-fetal interface as well as the discovery of novel pathways and immune and nonimmune cell types. Single-cell approaches have also been applied to decipher the cellular dynamics throughout pregnancy, in parturition, and in obstetrical syndromes such as recurrent spontaneous abortion, preeclampsia, and preterm labor. Furthermore, single-cell technologies have been used during the recent COVID-19 pandemic to evaluate placental viral cell entry and the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on maternal and fetal immunity. In this brief review, we summarize the current knowledge of cellular immunobiology in pregnancy and its complications that has been generated through single-cell investigations of the maternal-fetal interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek Miller
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Valeria Garcia-Flores
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Roberto Romero
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
- Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, MI
| | - Jose Galaz
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile; and
| | - Roger Pique-Regi
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
| | - Nardhy Gomez-Lopez
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI;
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
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Immunohistochemical Evaluation of CD3, CD4, CD8, and CD20 in Decidual and Trophoblastic Tissue Specimens of Patients with Recurrent Pregnancy Loss. Clin Pract 2022; 12:177-193. [PMID: 35314592 PMCID: PMC8938768 DOI: 10.3390/clinpract12020022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Recurrent miscarriages affect up to 5% of couples. CD3+ (T-lymphocytes), CD4+ (helper T-lymphocytes), CD8+ (cytotoxic T-lymphocytes), and CD20+ (B-lymphocytes) cells may participate in the pathophysiology of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). The aim of this study was to investigate the complicity of these molecules in RPL. The experimental specimens were obtained from 20 females who underwent miscarriages in the first gestational trimester, while the control group’s specimens consisted of 20 females who proceeded with voluntary pregnancy termination during the same period. Tissue samples were taken from the decidua basalis, decidua parietalis, and trophoblast (placental chorionic villi) and were studied using immunohistochemical methods. Monoclonal antibodies were used against CD3, CD4, CD8, and CD20 cells. The lymphocyte levels in the decidua parietalis displayed profound disparities among the two groups. The decidua basalis and trophoblast exhibited almost the same disparities regarding positive CD cells. The comparison of CD4+ and CD8+ cells in the endometrial tissue revealed a significant difference between the two groups of study. The analysis uncovered a strong relationship between RPL and the presence of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and CD20+ cells in the decidua parietalis tissue. The number of positive T cells was decreased in the decidual basalis and chorionic villi, proving that their absence significantly disrupts the balance of the immunological environment.
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Vazquez J, Chavarria M, Chasman DA, Schwartz RW, Tyler CT, Lopez G, Fisher RC, Ong IM, Stanic AK. Multiomic analysis reveals decidual-specific transcriptional programing of MAIT cells. Am J Reprod Immunol 2021; 86:e13495. [PMID: 34411378 PMCID: PMC8720468 DOI: 10.1111/aji.13495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
PROBLEM Mucosal-Associated Invariant T (MAIT) cells have been recently identified at the maternal-fetal interface. However, transcriptional programming of decidual MAIT cells in pregnancy remains poorly understood. METHOD OF STUDY We employed a multiomic approach to address this question. Mononuclear cells from the decidua basalis and parietalis, and control PBMCs, were analyzed via flow cytometry to investigate MAIT cells in the decidua and assess their transcription factor expression. In a separate study, both decidual and matched peripheral MAIT cells were analyzed using Cellular Indexing of Transcriptomes and Epitopes by Sequencing (CITE-seq) coupled with gene expression analysis. Lastly, decidual MAIT cells were stimulated with E.coli and expression of MR1 by antigen presenting cells was measured to evaluate decidual MAIT cell function. RESULTS First, we identified MAIT cells in both the decidua basalis and parietalis. CITE-seq, coupled with scRNA-seq gene expression analysis, highlighted transcriptional programming differences between decidual and matched peripheral MAIT cells at a single cell resolution. Transcription factor expression analysis further highlighted transcriptional differences between decidual MAIT cells and non-matched peripheral MAIT cells. Functionally, MAIT cells are skewed towards IFNγ and TNFα production upon stimulation, with E.coli leading to IFNγ production. Lastly, we demonstrate that MR1, the antigen presenting molecule restricting MAIT cells, is expressed by decidual APCs. CONCLUSION MAIT cells are present in the decidua basalis and obtain a unique gene expression profile. The presence of MR1 on APCs coupled with in vitro activation by E.coli suggests that MAIT cells might be involved in tissue-repair mechanisms at the maternal-fetal interface.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Deborah A. Chasman
- Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Biostatistics and Medical Informatics
| | - Rene Welch Schwartz
- Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Biostatistics and Medical Informatics
| | | | | | | | - Irene M. Ong
- Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Biostatistics and Medical Informatics
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Comprehensive Cancer Center
- Center for Human Genomics and Precision Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
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11
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Tian X, Aiyer KTS, Kapsenberg JM, Roelen DL, van der Hoorn ML, Eikmans M. Uncomplicated oocyte donation pregnancies display an elevated CD163-positive type 2 macrophage load in the decidua, which is associated with fetal-maternal HLA mismatches. Am J Reprod Immunol 2021; 87:e13511. [PMID: 34738274 PMCID: PMC9286476 DOI: 10.1111/aji.13511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
PROBLEM The embryo of an oocyte donation (OD) pregnancy is completely allogeneic to the mother, which may challenge the maternal immune system to tolerize the fetus. Decidual macrophages are essential in maintaining a healthy pregnancy, and type 2 macrophages may exhibit immune suppressive activity. We hypothesized that the composition of decidual macrophages is different between uncomplicated OD pregnancies and non-OD in vitro fertilization (IVF) pregnancies, and is related to fetal-maternal incompatibility. METHOD OF STUDY Women with uncomplicated pregnancy were enrolled: 25 singleton OD pregnancies and 17 non-OD IVF pregnancies. The extent of immunohistochemical staining of CD14 (pan-macrophage marker) and CD163 (type 2 macrophage marker) in both decidua basalis and parietalis was quantitated by digital image analysis. Maternal and fetal DNA was typed for human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A, -B, C, -DRB1, and -DQB1, and fetal-maternal HLA mismatches were calculated. RESULTS OD pregnancies showed a higher percentage of CD163+ staining (P = .040) and higher CD163/CD14 ratio (P = .032) in the parietalis than non-OD IVF. The OD group was separated into a semi-allogeneic group (≤5 fetal maternal HLA mismatches) and a fully allogeneic group (> 5 mismatches). The HLA-fully-allogeneic OD group, but not the HLA-semi-allogeneic OD group, showed significantly elevated CD163/CD14 ratio in the parietalis compared with the non-OD IVF group (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS Uncomplicated OD pregnancies display a higher CD163-positive cell fraction in the total decidual macrophage population compared to autologous pregnancies, which may suggest that a local type 2 macrophage-related mechanism is needed to compensate for the higher fetal-maternal HLA mismatch load.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuezi Tian
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Kaveri T S Aiyer
- Department of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | | | - Dave L Roelen
- Department of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | | | - Michael Eikmans
- Department of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
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12
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Li WX, Xu XH, Jin LP. Regulation of the innate immune cells during pregnancy: An immune checkpoint perspective. J Cell Mol Med 2021; 25:10362-10375. [PMID: 34708495 PMCID: PMC8581333 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.17022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The foetus can be regarded as a half‐allograft implanted into the maternal body. In a successful pregnancy, the mother does not reject the foetus because of the immune tolerance mechanism at the maternal‐foetal interface. The innate immune cells are a large part of the decidual leukocytes contributing significantly to a successful pregnancy. Although the contributions have been recognized, their role in human pregnancy has not been completely elucidated. Additionally, the accumulated evidence demonstrates that the immune checkpoint molecules expressed on the immune cells are co‐inhibitory receptors regulating their activation and biological function. Therefore, it is critical to understand the immune microenvironment and explore the function of the innate immune cells during pregnancy. This review summarizes the classic immune checkpoints such as PD‐1, CTLA‐4 and some novel molecules recently identified, including TIM‐3, CD200, TIGIT and the Siglecs family on the decidual and peripheral innate immune cells during pregnancy. Furthermore, it emphasizes the role of the immune checkpoint molecules in pregnancy‐associated complications and reproductive immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Xuan Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Clinical and Translational Research Center, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiang-Hong Xu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Clinical and Translational Research Center, Department of Biobank, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Li-Ping Jin
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Clinical and Translational Research Center, Department of Biobank, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
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13
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Raffetseder J, Lindau R, van der Veen S, Berg G, Larsson M, Ernerudh J. MAIT Cells Balance the Requirements for Immune Tolerance and Anti-Microbial Defense During Pregnancy. Front Immunol 2021; 12:718168. [PMID: 34497611 PMCID: PMC8420809 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.718168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are an innate-like T cell subset with proinflammatory and cytotoxic effector functions. During pregnancy, modulation of the maternal immune system, both at the fetal-maternal interface and systemically, is crucial for a successful outcome and manifests through controlled enhancement of innate and dampening of adaptive responses. Still, immune defenses need to efficiently protect both the mother and the fetus from infection. So far, it is unknown whether MAIT cells are subjected to immunomodulation during pregnancy, and characterization of decidual MAIT cells as well as their functional responses during pregnancy are mainly lacking. We here characterized the presence and phenotype of Vα7.2+CD161+ MAIT cells in blood and decidua (the uterine endometrium during pregnancy) from women pregnant in the 1st trimester, i.e., the time point when local immune tolerance develops. We also assessed the phenotype and functional responses of MAIT cells in blood of women pregnant in the 3rd trimester, i.e., when systemic immunomodulation is most pronounced. Multi-color flow cytometry panels included markers for MAIT subsets, and markers of activation (CD69, HLA-DR, Granzyme B) and immunoregulation (PD-1, CTLA-4). MAIT cells were numerically decreased at the fetal-maternal interface and showed, similar to other T cells in the decidua, increased expression of immune checkpoint markers compared with MAIT cells in blood. During the 3rd trimester, circulating MAIT cells showed a higher expression of CD69 and CD56, and their functional responses to inflammatory (activating anti-CD3/CD28 antibodies, and IL-12 and IL-18) and microbial stimuli (Escherichia coli, group B streptococci and influenza A virus) were generally increased compared with MAIT cells from non-pregnant women, indicating enhanced antimicrobial defenses during pregnancy. Taken together, our findings indicate dual roles for MAIT cells during pregnancy, with an evidently well-adapted ability to balance the requirements of immune tolerance in parallel with maintained antimicrobial defenses. Since MAIT cells are easily activated, they need to be strictly regulated during pregnancy, and failure to do so could contribute to pregnancy complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Raffetseder
- Division of Inflammation and Infection (II), Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (BKV), Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Robert Lindau
- Division of Inflammation and Infection (II), Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (BKV), Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Sigrid van der Veen
- Division of Inflammation and Infection (II), Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (BKV), Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Göran Berg
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (BKV), Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Marie Larsson
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology (MMV), Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (BKV), Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Jan Ernerudh
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, and Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
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Bhagirath AY, Medapati MR, de Jesus VC, Yadav S, Hinton M, Dakshinamurti S, Atukorallaya D. Role of Maternal Infections and Inflammatory Responses on Craniofacial Development. FRONTIERS IN ORAL HEALTH 2021; 2:735634. [PMID: 35048051 PMCID: PMC8757860 DOI: 10.3389/froh.2021.735634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy is a tightly regulated immunological state. Mild environmental perturbations can affect the developing fetus significantly. Infections can elicit severe immunological cascades in the mother's body as well as the developing fetus. Maternal infections and resulting inflammatory responses can mediate epigenetic changes in the fetal genome, depending on the developmental stage. The craniofacial development begins at the early stages of embryogenesis. In this review, we will discuss the immunology of pregnancy and its responsive mechanisms on maternal infections. Further, we will also discuss the epigenetic effects of pathogens, their metabolites and resulting inflammatory responses on the fetus with a special focus on craniofacial development. Understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms of infections and dysregulated inflammatory responses during prenatal development could provide better insights into the origins of craniofacial birth defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjali Y. Bhagirath
- Department of Pediatrics and Physiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Biology of Breathing, Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM), Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Department of Oral Biology, Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Manoj Reddy Medapati
- Biology of Breathing, Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM), Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Department of Oral Biology, Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Vivianne Cruz de Jesus
- Biology of Breathing, Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM), Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Department of Oral Biology, Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Sneha Yadav
- Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Wardha, India
| | - Martha Hinton
- Department of Pediatrics and Physiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Biology of Breathing, Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM), Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Shyamala Dakshinamurti
- Department of Pediatrics and Physiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Biology of Breathing, Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM), Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Devi Atukorallaya
- Biology of Breathing, Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM), Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Department of Oral Biology, Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
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15
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Granja MG, Oliveira ACDR, de Figueiredo CS, Gomes AP, Ferreira EC, Giestal-de-Araujo E, de Castro-Faria-Neto HC. SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Pregnant Women: Neuroimmune-Endocrine Changes at the Maternal-Fetal Interface. Neuroimmunomodulation 2021; 28:1-21. [PMID: 33910207 PMCID: PMC8247841 DOI: 10.1159/000515556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has devastating effects on the population worldwide. Given this scenario, the extent of the impact of the disease on more vulnerable individuals, such as pregnant women, is of great concern. Although pregnancy may be a risk factor in respiratory virus infections, there are no considerable differences regarding COVID-19 severity observed between pregnant and nonpregnant women. In these circumstances, an emergent concern is the possibility of neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric harm for the offspring of infected mothers. Currently, there is no stronger evidence indicating vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2; however, the exacerbated inflammatory response observed in the disease could lead to several impairments in the offspring's brain. Furthermore, in the face of historical knowledge on possible long-term consequences for the progeny's brain after infection by viruses, we must consider that this might be another deleterious facet of COVID-19. In light of neuroimmune interactions at the maternal-fetal interface, we review here the possible harmful outcomes to the offspring brains of mothers infected by SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo Gomes Granja
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, Federal University of State of Rio de Janeiro − UNIRIO, Rio de Janeiro, Rajasthan, Brazil
- Immunopharmacology Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation − Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rajasthan, Brazil
| | | | | | - Alex Portes Gomes
- Medical Science Program, Neurology and Neuroscience, Fluminense Federal University − UFF, Niterói, Rajasthan, Brazil
| | - Erica Camila Ferreira
- Immunopharmacology Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation − Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rajasthan, Brazil
| | - Elizabeth Giestal-de-Araujo
- Neuroscience Program, Fluminense Federal University − UFF, Niterói, Rajasthan, Brazil
- National Institute of Technology-Neuroimmunomodulation − INCT-NIM, Rio de Janeiro, Rajasthan, Brazil
| | - Hugo Caire de Castro-Faria-Neto
- Immunopharmacology Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation − Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rajasthan, Brazil
- National Institute of Technology-Neuroimmunomodulation − INCT-NIM, Rio de Janeiro, Rajasthan, Brazil
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16
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Bister J, Crona Guterstam Y, Strunz B, Dumitrescu B, Haij Bhattarai K, Özenci V, Brännström M, Ivarsson MA, Gidlöf S, Björkström NK. Human endometrial MAIT cells are transiently tissue resident and respond to Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Mucosal Immunol 2021; 14:357-365. [PMID: 32759973 DOI: 10.1038/s41385-020-0331-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Revised: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Mucosa-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are non-classical T cells important in the mucosal defense against microbes. Despite an increasing interest in the immunobiology of the endometrial mucosa, little is known regarding human MAIT cells in this compartment. The potential role of MAIT cells as a tissue-resident local defense against microbes in the endometrium is largely unexplored. Here, we performed a high-dimensional flow cytometry characterization of MAIT cells in endometrium from pre- and postmenopausal women, and in decidua from first-trimester pregnancies. Furthermore, we assessed MAIT cell function by stimulation with Neisseria gonorrhoeae (N. gonorrhoeae). Endometrial MAIT (eMAIT) cells represented a stable endometrial immune cell population as limited dynamic changes were observed during the menstrual cycle, post menopause, or in response to pregnancy. Furthermore, eMAIT cells exhibited an activated tissue-resident phenotype. Despite expressing CD69 and CD103, eMAIT cells were replenished over time by circulating MAIT cells, as assessed using human uterus transplantation as a model. Finally, functional experiments revealed the capability of MAIT cells to respond to the sexually transmitted and tissue-relevant pathogen, N. gonorrhoeae. In conclusion, our study provides novel insight into human MAIT cell dynamics and anti-microbial properties in the human uterus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonna Bister
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ylva Crona Guterstam
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Benedikt Strunz
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Karin Haij Bhattarai
- Clinical microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Volkan Özenci
- Clinical microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mats Brännström
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg and Stockholm IVF - Eugin, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Martin A Ivarsson
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sebastian Gidlöf
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stockholm South General Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Niklas K Björkström
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
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17
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Schust DJ, Bonney EA, Sugimoto J, Ezashi T, Roberts RM, Choi S, Zhou J. The Immunology of Syncytialized Trophoblast. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22041767. [PMID: 33578919 PMCID: PMC7916661 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22041767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Multinucleate syncytialized trophoblast is found in three forms in the human placenta. In the earliest stages of pregnancy, it is seen at the invasive leading edge of the implanting embryo and has been called primitive trophoblast. In later pregnancy, it is represented by the immense, multinucleated layer covering the surface of placental villi and by the trophoblast giant cells found deep within the uterine decidua and myometrium. These syncytia interact with local and/or systemic maternal immune effector cells in a fine balance that allows for invasion and persistence of allogeneic cells in a mother who must retain immunocompetence for 40 weeks of pregnancy. Maternal immune interactions with syncytialized trophoblast require tightly regulated mechanisms that may differ depending on the location of fetal cells and their invasiveness, the nature of the surrounding immune effector cells and the gestational age of the pregnancy. Some specifically reflect the unique mechanisms involved in trophoblast cell–cell fusion (aka syncytialization). Here we will review and summarize several of the mechanisms that support healthy maternal–fetal immune interactions specifically at syncytiotrophoblast interfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danny J. Schust
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65202, USA; (T.E.); (R.M.R.); (S.C.); (J.Z.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Elizabeth A. Bonney
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT 05405, USA;
| | - Jun Sugimoto
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan;
| | - Toshi Ezashi
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65202, USA; (T.E.); (R.M.R.); (S.C.); (J.Z.)
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - R. Michael Roberts
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65202, USA; (T.E.); (R.M.R.); (S.C.); (J.Z.)
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Sehee Choi
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65202, USA; (T.E.); (R.M.R.); (S.C.); (J.Z.)
- Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Jie Zhou
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65202, USA; (T.E.); (R.M.R.); (S.C.); (J.Z.)
- Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
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18
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Solders M, Gorchs L, Kaipe H. Isolation of Immune Cells from Placental Tissues and Phenotypic and Functional Analysis of MAIT Cells. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2098:55-70. [PMID: 31792815 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0207-2_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
The placenta is an immunological paradox since maternal immune cells infiltrating placental tissues need to be tolerant toward the fetus but still retain immunity against potential infections. This makes the placenta an interesting tissue for studying immunological processes. Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are a subset of T cells that respond to bacterially derived metabolites of riboflavin synthesis. Upon activation, MAIT cells respond by secretion of inflammatory cytokines and by directed killing of infected cells by the use of granzymes and perforin. In this protocol, we describe methods for the isolation of immune cells from the placental intervillous space and adjacent tissues such as the umbilical cord, decidua parietalis, and decidua basalis. We further describe how to stimulate MAIT cells in mixed cell suspensions of mononuclear cells with bacteria, and how to analyze the phenotypic and functional responses with flow cytometry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Solders
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. .,Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Laia Gorchs
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Helen Kaipe
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
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19
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DeJong CS, Maurice NJ, McCartney SA, Prlic M. Human Tissue-Resident Memory T Cells in the Maternal-Fetal Interface. Lost Soldiers or Special Forces? Cells 2020; 9:cells9122699. [PMID: 33339211 PMCID: PMC7765601 DOI: 10.3390/cells9122699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Revised: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The immune system plays a critical role during pregnancy, but the specific mechanisms and immune cell function needed to support pregnancy remain incompletely understood. Despite decades of research efforts, it is still unclear how the immune system maintains tolerance of fetal-derived tissues, which include most cells of the placenta and of course the fetus itself, without forfeiting the ability to protect against harmful infections. T cells recognize antigen in the context of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) encoded proteins, but classical MHC class I and II expression are diminished in fetal-derived cells. Can T cells present at the maternal–fetal interface (MFI) protect these cells from infection? Here we review what is known in regard to tissue-resident memory T (Trm) cells at the MFI. We mainly focus on how Trm cells can contribute to protection in the context of the unique features of the MFI, such as limited MHC expression as well as the temporary nature of the MFI, that are not found in other tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin S. DeJong
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; (C.S.D.); (N.J.M.)
| | - Nicholas J. Maurice
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; (C.S.D.); (N.J.M.)
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Stephen A. McCartney
- Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA;
| | - Martin Prlic
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; (C.S.D.); (N.J.M.)
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Correspondence:
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Windsperger K, Vondra S, Lackner AI, Kunihs V, Haslinger P, Meinhardt G, Dietrich B, Dekan S, Fiala C, Knöfler M, Saleh L, Pollheimer J. Densities of decidual high endothelial venules correlate with T-cell influx in healthy pregnancies and idiopathic recurrent pregnancy losses. Hum Reprod 2020; 35:2467-2477. [PMID: 32940686 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deaa234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Do high endothelial venules (HEVs) appear in the uterus of healthy and pathological pregnancies? SUMMARY ANSWER Our study reveals that HEVs are present in the non-pregnant endometrium and decidua parietalis (decP) but decline upon placentation in decidua basalis (decB) and are less abundant in decidual tissues from idiopathic, recurrent pregnancy losses (RPLs). WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY RPL is associated with a compromised decidual vascular phenotype. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION Endometrial (n = 29) and first trimester decidual (n = 86, 6-12th week of gestation) tissue samples obtained from endometrial biopsies or elective pregnancy terminations were used to determine the number of HEVs and T cells. In addition, quantification of HEVs and immune cells was performed in a cohort of decidual tissues from RPL (n = 25). PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Position and frequency of HEVs were determined in non-pregnant endometrial as well as decidual tissue sections using immunofluorescence (IF) staining with antibodies against E-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule, von Willebrand factor, ephrin receptor B4, CD34 and a carbohydrate epitope specific to HEVs (MECA-79). Immune cell distribution and characterization was determined by antibodies recognizing CD45 and CD3 by IF staining- and flow cytometry-based analyses. Antibodies against c-c motif chemokine ligand 21 (CCL21) and lymphotoxin-beta were used in IF staining and Western blot analyses of decidual tissues. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Functional HEVs are found in high numbers in the secretory endometrium and decP but decline in numbers upon placentation in decB (P ≤ 0.001). Decidua parietalis tissues contain higher levels of the HEV-maintaining factor lymphotoxin beta and decP-associated HEVs also express CCL21 (P ≤ 0.05), a potent T-cell chemoattractant. Moreover, there is a positive correlation between the numbers of decidual HEVs and the abundance of CD3+ cells in decidual tissue sections (P ≤ 0.001). In-depth analysis of a RPL tissue collection revealed a decreased decB (P ≤ 0.01) and decP (P ≤ 0.01) HEV density as well as reduced numbers of T cells in decB (P ≤ 0.05) and decP (P ≤ .001) sections when compared with age-matched healthy control samples. Using receiver-operating characteristics analyses, we found significant predictive values for the ratios of CD3/CD45 (P < 0.001) and HEVs/total vessels (P < 0.001) for the occurrence of RPL. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Analyses were performed in first trimester decidual tissues from elective terminations of pregnancy or non-pregnant endometrium samples from patients diagnosed with non-endometrial pathologies including cervical polyps, ovarian cysts and myomas. First trimester decidual tissues may include pregnancies which potentially would have developed placental disorders later in gestation. In addition, our cohort of non-pregnant endometrium may not reflect the endometrial vascular phenotype of healthy women. Finally, determination of immune cell distributions in the patient cohorts studied may be influenced by the different modes of tissue derivation. Pregnancy terminations were performed by surgical aspiration, endometrial tissues were obtained by biopsies and RPL tissues were collected after spontaneous loss of pregnancy. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS In this study, we propose an inherent mechanism by which the endometrium and in particular the decidua control T-cell recruitment. By demonstrating reduced HEV densities and numbers of T cells in decB and decP tissues of RPL samples we further support previous findings reporting an altered vascular phenotype in early pregnancy loss. Altogether, the findings provide important information to further decipher the etiologies of unexplained RPL. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This study was supported by the Austrian Science Fund (P31470 B30 to M.K.) and by the Austrian National Bank (17613ONB to J.P.). There are no competing interests to declare. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Windsperger
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Biology Unit, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sigrid Vondra
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Biology Unit, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreas Ian Lackner
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Biology Unit, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Victoria Kunihs
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Biology Unit, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Peter Haslinger
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Biology Unit, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gudrun Meinhardt
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Biology Unit, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bianca Dietrich
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Biology Unit, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sabine Dekan
- Department of Pathology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Martin Knöfler
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Biology Unit, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Leila Saleh
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Biology Unit, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jürgen Pollheimer
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Biology Unit, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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21
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Kaipe H, Raffetseder J, Ernerudh J, Solders M, Tiblad E. MAIT Cells at the Fetal-Maternal Interface During Pregnancy. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1788. [PMID: 32973750 PMCID: PMC7466580 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the main functions of the human placenta is to provide a barrier between the fetal and maternal blood circulations, where gas exchange and transfer of nutrients to the developing fetus take place. Despite being a barrier, there is a multitude of crosstalk between maternal immune cells and fetally derived semi-allogeneic trophoblast cells. Therefore, the maternal immune system has a difficult task to both tolerate the fetus but at the same time also defend the mother and the fetus from infections. Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are an increasingly recognized subset of T cells with anti-microbial functions that get activated in the context of non-polymorphic MR1 molecules, but also in response to inflammation. MAIT cells accumulate at term pregnancy in the maternal blood that flows into the intervillous space inside the placenta. Chemotactic factors produced by the placenta may be involved in recruiting and retaining particular immune cell subsets, including MAIT cells. In this Mini-Review, we describe what is known about MAIT cells during pregnancy and discuss the potential biological functions of MAIT cells at the fetal-maternal interface. Since MAIT cells have anti-microbial and tissue-repairing functions, but lack alloantigen reactivity, they could play an important role in protecting the fetus from bacterial infections and maintaining tissue homeostasis without risks of mediating harmful responses toward semi-allogenic fetal tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Kaipe
- Division of Biomolecular and Cellular Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Johanna Raffetseder
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Jan Ernerudh
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, and Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Martin Solders
- Division of Biomolecular and Cellular Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Eleonor Tiblad
- Center for Fetal Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.,Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Meggyes M, Nagy DU, Szigeti B, Csiszar B, Sandor B, Tamas P, Szereday L. Investigation of mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells expressing immune checkpoint receptors (TIGIT and CD226) in early-onset preeclampsia. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2020; 252:373-381. [PMID: 32682212 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2020.06.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE During our work, we examined the possible contribution of MAIT cells in the pathogenesis of the clinical phase of early-onset preeclampsia and how this could be influenced by TIGIT and CD226 immune checkpoint molecules. STUDY DESIGN 37 pregnant women diagnosed with early-onset preeclampsia and 36 healthy, age-matched control women were involved in this study. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated by density gradient and frozen. After thawing, cells were stained with monoclonal antibodies to characterize MAIT, MAIT-like, and non-MAIT cells. Flow cytometric analyses were used to measure TIGIT, CD226, intracellular perforin, and granzyme B expression. RESULTS MAIT (CD3+ CD8+ Vα7.2+ CD161++), MAIT-like (CD3+ CD8+ Vα7.2+ CD161+) and non-MAIT (CD3+ CD8+ Vα7.2+ CD161-) cell population were identified based on their CD161 receptor positivity. MAIT cells markedly differed in proportion, TIGIT expression, granzyme B, and perforin content compared to MAIT-like and non-MAIT cells. A significant difference was determined in TIGIT expression by non-MAIT cells and in CD8/CD226 positive relationship between the preeclamptic and healthy condition. CONCLUSIONS Considering that we did not detect a notable difference between early-onset preeclampsia and healthy pregnancy, we suppose that peripheral MAIT cells expressing TIGIT and CD226 immune checkpoint molecules have a marginal role in the pathogenesis of early-onset preeclampsia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matyas Meggyes
- University of Pecs, Medical School, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, 7624, Pecs, 12 Szigeti Street, Hungary; Janos Szentagothai Research Centre, 7624 Pecs, 20 Ifjusag Street, Hungary.
| | - David U Nagy
- University of Pécs, Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, 7624 Pecs, 6 Ifjusag Street, Hungary.
| | - Brigitta Szigeti
- University of Pecs, Medical School, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, 7624, Pecs, 12 Szigeti Street, Hungary.
| | - Beata Csiszar
- University of Pecs, Medical School, 1st Department of Medicine, 7624 Pecs, 13 Ifjusag Street, Hungary.
| | - Barbara Sandor
- University of Pecs, Medical School, 1st Department of Medicine, 7624 Pecs, 13 Ifjusag Street, Hungary.
| | - Peter Tamas
- University of Pecs, Medical School, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 7624 Pecs, 17 Edesanyak Street, Hungary.
| | - Laszlo Szereday
- University of Pecs, Medical School, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, 7624, Pecs, 12 Szigeti Street, Hungary; Janos Szentagothai Research Centre, 7624 Pecs, 20 Ifjusag Street, Hungary.
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23
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Orlovic Vlaho M, Tomic V, Vukojevic K, Vasilj A, Pejic R, Lesko J, Soljic V. CD25 + FOXP3 + and CD4 + CD25 + cells distribution in decidual departments of women with severe and mild pre-eclampsia: Comparison with healthy pregnancies. Am J Reprod Immunol 2020; 84:e13281. [PMID: 32485016 DOI: 10.1111/aji.13281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2019] [Revised: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
PROBLEM The aim of this study was to quantify and compare the distribution of regulatory CD25+ FOXP3+ and activated CD4+ CD25+ T cells in decidua basalis and parietalis of severe and mild pre-eclampsia (PE) to normal healthy pregnancies. METHOD OF STUDY Decidual tissue (decidua basalis and parietalis) of 13 women with mild PE, 15 women with severe PE, and 19 women with healthy term pregnancies were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and double immunofluorescence. RESULTS The total number of CD25+ FOXP3+ cells/mm2 in decidua basalis was decreased in the severe and mild PE versus normal pregnancy group. The total number of CD4+ CD25+ cells/mm2 in decidua basalis was decreased in the severe PE versus normal pregnancy group. The number of CD25+ FOXP3+ and CD4+ CD25+ cells in decidua parietalis was decreased in both PE groups. CONCLUSION Our data suggest that immunological changes of PE reflect on decidua basalis and parietalis and emphasize the importance of characterizing T cells in both decidual departments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Orlovic Vlaho
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology University Clinical Hospital Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Vajdana Tomic
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology University Clinical Hospital Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina.,Faculty of Health Studies, University of Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Katarina Vukojevic
- Laboratory of Morphology, Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, University of Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina.,Laboratory for Early Human Development, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, University of Split, Split, Croatia
| | - Anja Vasilj
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology University Clinical Hospital Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Renato Pejic
- University Clinical Hospital Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Josip Lesko
- University Clinical Hospital Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Violeta Soljic
- Laboratory of Morphology, Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, University of Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
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24
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Maternal and fetal T cells in term pregnancy and preterm labor. Cell Mol Immunol 2020; 17:693-704. [PMID: 32467619 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-020-0471-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy is a state of immunological balance during which the mother and the developing fetus must tolerate each other while maintaining sufficient immunocompetence to ward off potential threats. The site of closest contact between the mother and fetus is the decidua, which represents the maternal-fetal interface. Many of the immune cell subsets present at the maternal-fetal interface have been well described; however, the importance of the maternal T cells in this compartment during late gestation and its complications, such as preterm labor and birth, has only recently been established. Moreover, pioneer and recent studies have indicated that fetal T cells are activated in different subsets of preterm labor and may elicit distinct inflammatory responses in the amniotic cavity, leading to preterm birth. In this review, we describe the established and proposed roles for maternal T cells at the maternal-fetal interface in normal term parturition, as well as the demonstrated contributions of such cells to the pathological process of preterm labor and birth. We also summarize the current knowledge of and proposed roles for fetal T cells in the pathophysiology of the preterm labor syndrome. It is our hope that this review provides a solid conceptual framework highlighting the importance of maternal and fetal T cells in late gestation and catalyzes new research questions that can further scientific understanding of these cells and their role in preterm labor and birth, the leading cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity worldwide.
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25
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Monin L, Whettlock EM, Male V. Immune responses in the human female reproductive tract. Immunology 2019; 160:106-115. [PMID: 31630394 DOI: 10.1111/imm.13136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Revised: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 10/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Mucosal surfaces are key interfaces between the host and its environment, but also constitute ports of entry for numerous pathogens. The gut and lung mucosae act as points of nutrient and gas exchange, respectively, but the physiological purpose of the female reproductive tract (FRT) is to allow implantation and development of the fetus. Our understanding of immune responses in the FRT has traditionally lagged behind our grasp of the situation at other mucosal sites, but recently reproductive immunologists have begun to make rapid progress in this challenging area. Here, we review current knowledge of immune responses in the human FRT and their heterogeneity within and between compartments. In the commensal-rich vagina, the immune system must allow the growth of beneficial microbes, whereas the key challenge in the uterus is allowing the growth of the semi-allogeneic fetus. In both compartments, these objectives must be balanced with the need to eliminate pathogens. Our developing understanding of immune responses in the FRT will help us develop interventions to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and to improve outcomes of pregnancy for mothers and babies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leticia Monin
- Immunosurveillance Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Emily M Whettlock
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Victoria Male
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, UK
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26
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Yang F, Zheng Q, Jin L. Dynamic Function and Composition Changes of Immune Cells During Normal and Pathological Pregnancy at the Maternal-Fetal Interface. Front Immunol 2019; 10:2317. [PMID: 31681264 PMCID: PMC6813251 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 231] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
A successful pregnancy requires a fine-tuned and highly regulated balance between immune activation and embryonic antigen tolerance. Since the fetus is semi-allogeneic, the maternal immune system should exert tolerant to the fetus while maintaining the defense against infection. The maternal-fetal interface consists of different immune cells, such as decidual natural killer (dNK) cells, macrophages, T cells, dendritic cells, B cells, and NKT cells. The interaction between immune cells, decidual stromal cells, and trophoblasts constitute a vast network of cellular connections. A cellular immunological imbalance may lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as recurrent spontaneous abortion, pre-eclampsia, pre-term birth, intrauterine growth restriction, and infection. Dynamic changes in immune cells at the maternal-fetal interface have not been clearly stated. While many studies have described changes in the proportions of immune cells in the normal maternal-fetus interface during early pregnancy, few studies have assessed the immune cell changes in mid and late pregnancy. Research on pathological pregnancy has provided clues about these dynamic changes, but a deeper understanding of these changes is necessary. This review summarizes information from previous studies, which may lay the foundation for the diagnosis of pathological pregnancy and put forward new ideas for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fenglian Yang
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qingliang Zheng
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Liping Jin
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Solders M, Lundell AC, Gorchs L, Gidlöf S, Tiblad E, Kaipe H. Mature naïve B cells are retained in the placental intervillous blood and positively associate with specific chemokines in full-term healthy pregnancy. Am J Reprod Immunol 2019; 82:e13154. [PMID: 31166050 DOI: 10.1111/aji.13154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2019] [Revised: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
PROBLEM Circulating B-cell numbers are lower during pregnancy compared with non-pregnant women, but the underlying reasons for this are unknown. Pregnancy-related hormones could influence B-cell lymphopoiesis in the bone marrow, but B cells may also be recruited to the placenta. To investigate the latter, we examined whether the proportions of total B cells and B cells at different maturational stages in placental intervillous blood (IVB) differ compared with peripheral blood (PB). METHOD OF STUDY From 23 paired samples of PB and IVB following full-term healthy pregnancies, total B cells and immature/transitional, mature/naïve, and memory B cells were identified by flow cytometry. Chemokine levels in blood were analyzed using a Luminex assay. Placental explant-derived supernatant was assayed for B-cell chemotactic activity. RESULTS The proportions of total B cells and mature/naïve B cells were significantly higher in IVB relative to PB, while the fractions of immature/transitional cells and memory B cells were higher in PB. Multivariate factor analysis demonstrated that a specific chemokine profile in IVB, including CCL20, positively associated with higher proportions of mature/naïve B cells in the intervillous space. All B cells expressed CCR6, the corresponding receptor for CCL20, but the intensity of CCR6 expression was significantly higher in mature/naïve B cells relative to immature/transitional B cells. Migration assays showed that placental explant-derived supernatants attract B cells. CONCLUSION These results indicate that B cells, and mature/naïve B cells in particular, are retained in the intervillous blood in response to certain chemokines produced by the placenta during late healthy pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Solders
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna-Carin Lundell
- Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Laia Gorchs
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sebastian Gidlöf
- Center for Fetal Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of CLINTEC, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gävle Hospital, Gävle, Sweden
| | - Eleonor Tiblad
- Center for Fetal Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of CLINTEC, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Helen Kaipe
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
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28
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Solders M, Gorchs L, Tiblad E, Gidlöf S, Leeansyah E, Dias J, Sandberg JK, Magalhaes I, Lundell AC, Kaipe H. Recruitment of MAIT Cells to the Intervillous Space of the Placenta by Placenta-Derived Chemokines. Front Immunol 2019; 10:1300. [PMID: 31244846 PMCID: PMC6563723 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The intervillous space of the placenta is a part of the fetal-maternal interface, where maternal blood enters to provide nutrients and gas exchange. Little is known about the maternal immune cells at this site, which are in direct contact with fetal tissues. We have characterized the T cell composition and chemokine profile in paired intervillous and peripheral blood samples from healthy mothers giving birth following term pregnancies. Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells and effector memory (EM) T cells were enriched in the intervillous blood compared to peripheral blood, suggesting that MAIT cells and other EM T cells home to the placenta during pregnancy. Furthermore, pregnant women had lower proportions of peripheral blood MAIT cells compared to non-pregnant women. The levels of several chemokines were significantly higher in intervillous compared to peripheral blood, including macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), CXCL10, and CCL25, whereas CCL21, CCL27 and CXCL12 were lower. Migration assays showed that MAIT cells and EM T cells migrated toward conditioned medium from placental explants. A multivariate factor analysis indicated that high levels of MIF and CCL25 were associated with high proportions of MAIT cells in intervillous blood. Blocking of MIF or a combination of MIF, CCL25, and CCL20 in migration assays inhibited MAIT cell migration toward placenta conditioned medium. Finally, MAIT cells showed migratory capacities toward recombinant MIF. Together, these findings indicate that term placental tissues attract MAIT cells, and that this effect is at least partly mediated by MIF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Solders
- Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Laia Gorchs
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Eleonor Tiblad
- Center for Fetal Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital and Department of CLINTEC, Karolinska Insitutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sebastian Gidlöf
- Center for Fetal Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital and Department of CLINTEC, Karolinska Insitutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Edwin Leeansyah
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Joana Dias
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Johan K Sandberg
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Isabelle Magalhaes
- Department of Oncology/Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna-Carin Lundell
- Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Helen Kaipe
- Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Exhausted and Senescent T Cells at the Maternal-Fetal Interface in Preterm and Term Labor. J Immunol Res 2019; 2019:3128010. [PMID: 31263712 PMCID: PMC6556261 DOI: 10.1155/2019/3128010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 02/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Successful pregnancy requires a tightly-regulated equilibrium of immune cell interactions at the maternal-fetal interface (i.e., the decidual tissues), which plays a central role in the inflammatory process of labor. Most of the innate immune cells in this compartment have been well characterized; however, adaptive immune cells are still under investigation. Herein, we performed immunophenotyping of the decidua basalis and decidua parietalis to determine whether exhausted and senescent T cells are present at the maternal-fetal interface and whether the presence of pathological (i.e., preterm) or physiological (i.e., term) labor and/or placental inflammation alter such adaptive immune cells. In addition, decidual exhausted T cells were sorted to test their functional status. We found that (1) exhausted and senescent T cells were present at the maternal-fetal interface and predominantly expressed an effector memory phenotype, (2) exhausted CD4+ T cells increased in the decidua parietalis as gestational age progressed, (3) exhausted CD4+ and CD8+ T cells decreased in the decidua basalis of women who underwent labor at term compared to those without labor, (4) exhausted CD4+ T cells declined with the presence of placental inflammation in the decidua basalis of women with preterm labor, (5) exhausted CD8+ T cells decreased with the presence of placental inflammation in the decidua basalis of women who underwent labor at term, (6) both senescent CD4+ and CD8+ T cells declined with the presence of placental inflammation in the decidua basalis of women who underwent preterm labor, and (7) decidual exhausted T cells produced IFNγ and TNFα upon in vitro stimulation. Collectively, these findings indicate that exhausted and senescent T cells are present at the human maternal-fetal interface and undergo alterations in a subset of women either with labor at term or preterm labor and placental inflammation. Importantly, decidual T cell function can be restored upon stimulation.
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30
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Leng Y, Romero R, Xu Y, Galaz J, Slutsky R, Arenas-Hernandez M, Garcia-Flores V, Motomura K, Hassan SS, Reboldi A, Gomez-Lopez N. Are B cells altered in the decidua of women with preterm or term labor? Am J Reprod Immunol 2019; 81:e13102. [PMID: 30768818 DOI: 10.1111/aji.13102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Revised: 01/26/2019] [Accepted: 02/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
PROBLEM The immunophenotype of B cells at the maternal-fetal interface (decidua) in labor at term and preterm labor is poorly understood. METHOD OF STUDY Decidual tissues were obtained from women with preterm or term labor and from non-labor gestational age-matched controls. Immunophenotyping of decidual B cells was performed using multicolor flow cytometry. RESULTS (a) In the absence of acute or chronic chorioamnionitis, total B cells were more abundant in the decidua parietalis of women who delivered preterm than in those who delivered at term, regardless of the presence of labor; (b) decidual transitional and naïve B cells were the most abundant B-cell subsets; (c) decidual B1 B cells were increased in women with either labor at term or preterm labor and chronic chorioamnionitis compared to those without this placental lesion; (d) decidual transitional B cells were reduced in women with preterm labor compared to those without labor; (e) naïve, class-switched, and non-class-switched B cells in the decidual tissues underwent mild alterations with the process of preterm labor; (f) decidual plasmablasts seemed to increase in women with either labor at term or preterm labor with chronic chorioamnionitis; and (g) decidual B cells expressed high levels of interleukin (IL)-12, IL-6, and/or IL-35. CONCLUSION Total B cells are not increased with the presence of preterm or term labor; yet, specific subsets (B1 and plasmablasts) undergo alterations in women with chronic chorioamnionitis. Therefore, B cells are solely implicated in the pathological process of preterm labor in a subset of women with chronic inflammation of the placenta. These findings provide insight into the immunology of the maternal-fetal interface in preterm and term labor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaozhu Leng
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Roberto Romero
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.,Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan.,Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Yi Xu
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Jose Galaz
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Rebecca Slutsky
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan
| | - Marcia Arenas-Hernandez
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Valeria Garcia-Flores
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Kenichiro Motomura
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Sonia S Hassan
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan.,Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Andrea Reboldi
- Department of Pathology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Nardhy Gomez-Lopez
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan.,C.S. Mott Center for Human Growth and Development, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan.,Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Biochemistry, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
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Bonney EA, Johnson MR. The role of maternal T cell and macrophage activation in preterm birth: Cause or consequence? Placenta 2019; 79:53-61. [PMID: 30929747 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2019.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The role of the immune system in term (TL) and preterm labor (PTL) is unknown. Despite the fact that globally, PTL remains the most important cause of childhood mortality. Infection, typically of the fetal membranes, termed chorioamnionitis, is the best-understood driver of PTL, but the mechanisms underpinning other causes, including idiopathic and stretch-induced PTL, are unclear, but may well involve activation of the maternal immune system. The final common pathway of placental dysfunction, fetal membrane rupture, cervical dilation and uterine contractions are highly complex processes. At term, choriodecidual rather than myometrial inflammation is thought to drive the onset of labor and similar findings are present in different types of PTL including idiopathic PTL. Although accumulated data has confirmed an association between the immune response and preterm birth, there is yet a need to understand if this response is an initiator or a consequence of tissue-level dysregulation. This review focuses on the potential role of macrophages and T cells in innate and adaptive immunity relevant to preterm birth in humans and animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Bonney
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences University of Vermont, Larner College of Medicine, Burlington, VT, USA.
| | - Mark R Johnson
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
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The influence of maternal obesity on macrophage subsets in the human decidua. Cell Immunol 2019; 336:75-82. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2019.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Revised: 12/15/2018] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
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Pollheimer J, Vondra S, Baltayeva J, Beristain AG, Knöfler M. Regulation of Placental Extravillous Trophoblasts by the Maternal Uterine Environment. Front Immunol 2018; 9:2597. [PMID: 30483261 PMCID: PMC6243063 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.02597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 232] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
During placentation invasive extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs) migrate into the maternal uterus and modify its vessels. In particular, remodeling of the spiral arteries by EVTs is critical for adapting blood flow and nutrient transport to the developing fetus. Failures in this process have been noticed in different pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, stillbirth, or recurrent abortion. Upon invasion into the decidua, the endometrium of pregnancy, EVTs encounter different maternal cell types such as decidual macrophages, uterine NK (uNK) cells and stromal cells expressing a plethora of growth factors and cytokines. Here, we will summarize development of the EVT lineage, a process occurring independently of the uterine environment, and formation of its different subtypes. Further, we will discuss interactions of EVTs with arteries, veins and lymphatics and illustrate how the decidua and its different immune cells regulate EVT differentiation, invasion and survival. The present literature suggests that the decidual environment and its soluble factors critically modulate EVT function and reproductive success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jürgen Pollheimer
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sigrid Vondra
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jennet Baltayeva
- British Columbia's Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Alexander Guillermo Beristain
- British Columbia's Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Martin Knöfler
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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