Vasoactive intestinal peptide shapes first-trimester placenta trophoblast, vascular, and immune cell cooperation.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

Extravillous trophoblast (EVT) cells are responsible for decidual stromal invasion, vascular transformation, and the recruitment and functional modulation of maternal leukocytes in the first-trimester pregnant uterus. An early disruption of EVT function leads to placental insufficiency underlying pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction. Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is a vasodilating and immune modulatory factor synthesized by trophoblast cells. However, its role in first-trimester placenta has not been explored. Here, we tested the hypothesis that VIP is involved in first-trimester EVT outgrowth, spiral artery remodelling, balancing angiogenesis, and maintenance of immune homeostasis.

Experimental approach

First

SUBMITTER: Paparini DE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6433651 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature