Hyperglycemia enhances group B <i>Streptococcus</i> pathogenicity by impairing TLR2 expression and chemotactic response in the human placenta.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Elevated glucose levels during pregnancy disrupt placental structure, signaling, and cellular interactions, impairing its immune response. In mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B Streptococcus, GBS) is the second leading cause of bacterial infections. GDM is also linked to altered chemokine profiles in maternal serum and placenta tissue. However, the impact of hyperglycemia on placental immune responses to bacterial infections remains poorly understood. This work aimed to evaluate cytokine and chemokine production, as well as chemotactic responses, in the placenta following GBS infection under hyperglycemic conditions.

Methods

Human villous explants from term, normoevolutive pregnancies were cultured w

SUBMITTER: Jimenez-Escutia R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12310592 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature