1
|
Colamatteo A, Fusco C, Micillo T, D'Hooghe T, de Candia P, Alviggi C, Longobardi S, Matarese G. Immunobiology of pregnancy: from basic science to translational medicine. Trends Mol Med 2023; 29:711-725. [PMID: 37331882 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2023.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Embryo implantation failure and spontaneous abortions represent the main causes of infertility in developed countries. Unfortunately, incomplete knowledge of the multiple factors involved in implantation and fetal development keeps the success rate of medically assisted procreation techniques relatively low. According to recent literature, cellular and molecular mechanisms of 'immunogenic tolerance' towards the embryo are crucial to establish an 'anti-inflammatory' state permissive of a healthy pregnancy. In this review we dissect the role played by the immune system in the endometrial-embryo crosstalk, with a particular emphasis towards the fork-head-box-p3 (Foxp3+) CD4+CD25+ regulatory T (Treg) cells and discuss the most recent therapeutic advances in the context of early immune-mediated pregnancy loss.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Colamatteo
- Treg Cell Lab, Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", Napoli, Italy
| | - Clorinda Fusco
- Treg Cell Lab, Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", Napoli, Italy; Laboratorio di Immunologia, Istituto per l'Endocrinologia e l'Oncologia Sperimentale "G. Salvatore", Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Napoli, Italy
| | - Teresa Micillo
- Treg Cell Lab, Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", Napoli, Italy
| | - Thomas D'Hooghe
- Global Medical Affairs Fertility, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany; Research Group Reproductive Medicine, Department of Development and Regeneration, Organ Systems, Group Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Leuven, Belgium; Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Paola de Candia
- Treg Cell Lab, Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", Napoli, Italy
| | - Carlo Alviggi
- Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", Napoli, Italy
| | | | - Giuseppe Matarese
- Treg Cell Lab, Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", Napoli, Italy; Laboratorio di Immunologia, Istituto per l'Endocrinologia e l'Oncologia Sperimentale "G. Salvatore", Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Napoli, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Lala PK, Graham CH. Editorial: Cellular and molecular determinants of pregnancy success at the fetal-maternal interface in health and disease. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1240481. [PMID: 37519300 PMCID: PMC10380920 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1240481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Peeyush K. Lala
- Departments of Anatomy and Cell Biology and Oncology and Children’s Health Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, ON, Canada
| | - Charles H. Graham
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Hardardottir L, Bazzano MV, Glau L, Gattinoni L, Köninger A, Tolosa E, Solano ME. The New Old CD8+ T Cells in the Immune Paradox of Pregnancy. Front Immunol 2021; 12:765730. [PMID: 34868016 PMCID: PMC8635142 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.765730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
CD8+ T cells are the most frequent T cell population in the immune cell compartment at the feto-maternal interface. Due to their cytotoxic potential, the presence of CD8+ T cells in the immune privileged pregnant uterus has raised considerable interest. Here, we review our current understanding of CD8+ T cell biology in the uterus of pregnant women and discuss this knowledge in relation to a recently published immune cell Atlas of human decidua. We describe how the expansion of CD8+ T cells with an effector memory phenotype often presenting markers of exhaustion is critical for a successful pregnancy, and host defense towards pathogens. Moreover, we review new evidence on the presence of long-lasting immunological memory to former pregnancies and discuss its impact on prospective pregnancy outcomes. The formation of fetal-specific memory CD8+ T cell subests in the uterus, in particular of tissue resident, and stem cell memory cells requires further investigation, but promises interesting results to come. Advancing the knowledge of CD8+ T cell biology in the pregnant uterus will be pivotal for understanding not only tissue-specific immune tolerance but also the etiology of complications during pregnancy, thus enabling preventive or therapeutic interventions in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lilja Hardardottir
- Laboratory for Translational Perinatology- Focus: Immunology, University Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Maria Victoria Bazzano
- Laboratory for Translational Perinatology- Focus: Immunology, University Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Laura Glau
- Department of Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Luca Gattinoni
- Department of Functional Immune Cell Modulation, Regensburg Center for Interventional Immunology, Regensburg, Germany
- University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Angela Köninger
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the University of Regensburg at the St. Hedwig Hospital of the Order of St. John, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Eva Tolosa
- Department of Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Maria Emilia Solano
- Laboratory for Translational Perinatology- Focus: Immunology, University Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Radnaa E, Richardson LS, Sheller-Miller S, Baljinnyam T, de Castro Silva M, Kumar Kammala A, Urrabaz-Garza R, Kechichian T, Kim S, Han A, Menon R. Extracellular vesicle mediated feto-maternal HMGB1 signaling induces preterm birth. Lab Chip 2021; 21:1956-1973. [PMID: 34008619 PMCID: PMC8162392 DOI: 10.1039/d0lc01323d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Preterm birth (PTB; <37 weeks of gestation) impacts ∼11% of all pregnancies and contributes to 1 million neonatal deaths worldwide annually. An understanding of the feto-maternal (F-M) signals that initiate birthing (parturition) at term is critical to design strategies to prevent their premature activation, resulting in PTB. Although endocrine and immune cell signaling are well-reported, fetal-derived paracrine signals capable of transitioning quiescent uterus to an active state of labor are poorly studied. Recent reports have suggested that senescence of the fetal amnion membrane coinciding with fetal growth and maturation generates inflammatory signals capable of triggering parturition. This is by increasing the inflammatory load at the feto-maternal interface (FMi) tissues (i.e., amniochorion-decidua). High mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1), an alarmin, is one of the inflammatory signals released by senescent amnion cells via extracellular vesicles (exosomes; 40-160 nm). Increased levels of HMGB1 in the amniotic fluid, cord and maternal blood are associated with term and PTB. This study tested the hypothesis that senescent amnion cells release HMGB1, which is fetal signaling capable of increasing FMi inflammation, predisposing them to parturition. To test this hypothesis, exosomes from amnion epithelial cells (AECs) grown under normal conditions were engineered to contain HMGB1 by electroporation (eHMGB1). eHMGB1 was characterized (quantity, size, shape, markers and loading efficiency), and its propagation through FMi was tested using a four-chamber microfluidic organ-on-a-chip device (FMi-OOC) that contained four distinct cell types (amnion and chorion mesenchymal, chorion trophoblast and decidual cells) connected through microchannels. eHMGB1 propagated through the fetal cells and matrix to the maternal decidua and increased inflammation (receptor expression [RAGE and TLR4] and cytokines). Furthermore, intra-amniotic injection of eHMGB1 (containing 10 ng) into pregnant CD-1 mice on embryonic day 17 led to PTB. Injecting carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester (CFSE)-labeled eHMGB1, we determined in vivo kinetics and report that eHMGB1 trafficking resulting in PTB was associated with increased FMi inflammation. This study determined that fetal exosome mediated paracrine signaling can generate inflammation and induce parturition. Besides, in vivo functional validation of FMi-OOC experiments strengthens the reliability of such devices to test physiologic and pathologic systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Enkhtuya Radnaa
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Perinatal Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX 77555-1062, USA.
| | - Lauren S Richardson
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Perinatal Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX 77555-1062, USA. and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Samantha Sheller-Miller
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Perinatal Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX 77555-1062, USA.
| | - Tuvshintugs Baljinnyam
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Mariana de Castro Silva
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Perinatal Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX 77555-1062, USA.
| | - Ananth Kumar Kammala
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Perinatal Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX 77555-1062, USA.
| | - Rheanna Urrabaz-Garza
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Perinatal Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX 77555-1062, USA.
| | - Talar Kechichian
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Perinatal Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX 77555-1062, USA.
| | - Sungjin Kim
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Arum Han
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Ramkumar Menon
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Perinatal Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX 77555-1062, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Abstract
Maternal infection (i.e., ascending infection) and the resulting host inflammatory response are risk factors associated with spontaneous preterm birth (PTB), a major pregnancy complication. However, the path of infection and its propagation from the maternal side to the fetal side have been difficult to study due to the lack of appropriate in vitro models and limitations of animal models. A better understanding of the propagation kinetics of infectious agents and development of the host inflammatory response at the feto-maternal (amniochorion-decidua, respectively) interface (FMi) is critical in curtailing host inflammatory responses that can lead to PTB. To model ascending infection and determine inflammatory responses at the FMi, we developed a microfluidic organ-on-chip (OOC) device containing primary cells from the FMi (decidua, chorion, and amnion [mesenchyme and epithelium]) and collagen matrix harvested from primary tissue. The FMi-OOC is composed of four concentric circular cell/collagen chambers designed to mimic the thickness and cell density of the FMi in vivo. Each layer is connected by arrays of microchannels filled with type IV collagen to recreate the basement membrane of the amniochorion. Cellular characteristics (viability, morphology, production of nascent collagen, cellular transitions, and migration) in the OOC were similar to those seen in utero, validating the physiological relevance and utility of the developed FMi-OOC. The ascending infection model of the FMi-OOC, triggered by exposing the maternal (decidua) side of the OOC to lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 100 ng mL-1), shows that LPS propagated through the chorion, amnion mesenchyme, and reached the fetal amnion within 72 h. LPS induced time-dependent and cell-type-specific pro-inflammatory cytokine production (24 h decidua: IL-6, 48 h chorion: GM-CSF and IL-6, and 72 h amnion mesenchyme and epithelium: GM-CSF and IL-6). Collectively, this OOC model and study successfully modeled ascending infection, its propagation, and distinct inflammatory response at the FMi indicative of pathologic pathways of PTB. This OOC model provides a novel platform to study physiological and pathological cell status at the FMi, and is expected to have broad utility in the field of obstetrics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Richardson
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine & Perinatal Research, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX 77555-1062, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Sungjin Kim
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Arum Han
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Ramkumar Menon
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine & Perinatal Research, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX 77555-1062, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Bauer R, Tondl P, Schneider WJ. A differentiation program induced by bone morphogenetic proteins 4 and 7 in endodermal epithelial cells provides the molecular basis for efficient nutrient transport by the chicken yolk sac. Dev Dyn 2019; 249:222-236. [PMID: 31691430 PMCID: PMC7028021 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Revised: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The mammalian yolk sac provides nutrients for the growing fetus during critical early developmental processes such as neural tube closure, which precedes the functional maturation of the placenta. In contrast, oviparous species such as the chicken rely solely on the yolk sac for transfer of nutrients from the yolk to the developing embryo. However, the molecular mechanisms that provide the yolk sac with nutrient transfer competence remain poorly understood. RESULTS We demonstrate that the chicken endodermal epithelial cells (EEC), which are in close contact with the yolk, gain their nutrient-transport competence by a paracrine crosstalk with the blood-vessel forming mesodermal cell layer. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP) 4 and 7 produced by ectodermal and mesodermal cell layers likely initiate a differentiation program of EECs during the transition from the area vitellina to the area vasculosa. BMPs, by inducing SMAD signaling, promote the up-regulation of endocytic receptor expression and thereby provide the EECs with the molecular machinery to produce triglyceride-rich lipoprotein particles. CONCLUSION This paracrine signaling cascade may constitute the basis for the EEC-mediated mechanism underlying the efficient uptake, degradation, resynthesis, and transfer of yolk-derived nutrients into the embryonic circulation, which assures proper energy supply and development of the growing fetus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Raimund Bauer
- Center for Pathobiochemistry and Genetics, Institute of Medical Chemistry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Philipp Tondl
- Department of Chemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Wolfgang J Schneider
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Max Perutz Labs, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Zhang YH, Tian M, Tang MX, Liu ZZ, Liao AH. Recent Insight into the Role of the PD-1/PD-L1 Pathway in Feto-Maternal Tolerance and Pregnancy. Am J Reprod Immunol 2015; 74:201-8. [PMID: 25640631 DOI: 10.1111/aji.12365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2014] [Accepted: 01/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy presents a great challenge to the maternal immune system. Given that maternal alloreactive lymphocytes are not depleted during pregnancy, local and/or systemic mechanisms have to serve a central function in altering the maternal immune responses. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) and the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway are both critical in controlling the immune responses. Recent studies have proved the critical function of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway in regulating the T-cell homeostasis and the peripheral tolerance through promoting the development and function of Tregs, and inhibiting the activation of effector T cells. The function of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway in feto-maternal interface and pregnancy has been investigated in human and animal models of pregnancy. In this review, we provide recent insight into the role of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway in regulating T-cell homeostasis, maternal tolerance, and pregnancy-related complications as well as its possible applicability in clinical immunotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Hong Zhang
- Family Planning Research Institute, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Mei Tian
- Family Planning Research Institute, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Mao-Xing Tang
- Family Planning Research Institute, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhao-Zhao Liu
- Family Planning Research Institute, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ai-Hua Liao
- Family Planning Research Institute, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Van Overmeire E, Laoui D, Keirsse J, Van Ginderachter JA, Sarukhan A. Mechanisms driving macrophage diversity and specialization in distinct tumor microenvironments and parallelisms with other tissues. Front Immunol 2014; 5:127. [PMID: 24723924 PMCID: PMC3972476 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2014.00127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2014] [Accepted: 03/12/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Macrophages are extremely versatile cells that adopt a distinct phenotype in response to a changing microenvironment. Consequently, macrophages are involved in diverse functions, ranging from organogenesis and tissue homeostasis to recognition and destruction of invading pathogens. In cancer, tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) often contribute to tumor progression by increasing cancer cell migration and invasiveness, stimulating angiogenesis, and suppressing anti-tumor immunity. Accumulating evidence suggests that these different functions could be exerted by specialized TAM subpopulations. Here, we discuss the potential underlying mechanisms regulating TAM specialization and elaborate on TAM heterogeneity in terms of their ontogeny, activation state, and intra-tumoral localization. In addition, parallels are drawn between TAM and macrophages in other tissues. Together, a better understanding of TAM diversity could provide a rationale for novel strategies aimed at targeting the most potent tumor-supporting macrophages.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eva Van Overmeire
- Myeloid Cell Immunology Laboratory, VIB , Brussels , Belgium ; Lab of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel , Brussels , Belgium
| | - Damya Laoui
- Myeloid Cell Immunology Laboratory, VIB , Brussels , Belgium ; Lab of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel , Brussels , Belgium
| | - Jiri Keirsse
- Myeloid Cell Immunology Laboratory, VIB , Brussels , Belgium ; Lab of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel , Brussels , Belgium
| | - Jo A Van Ginderachter
- Myeloid Cell Immunology Laboratory, VIB , Brussels , Belgium ; Lab of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel , Brussels , Belgium
| | - Adelaida Sarukhan
- Myeloid Cell Immunology Laboratory, VIB , Brussels , Belgium ; Lab of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel , Brussels , Belgium ; Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale , Paris , France
| |
Collapse
|