Complement in Human Pre-implantation Embryos: Attack and Defense.

ABSTRACT: It is essential for early human life that mucosal immunological responses to developing embryos are tightly regulated. An imbalance of the complement system is a common feature of pregnancy complications. We hereby present the first full analysis of the expression and deposition of complement molecules in human pre-implantation embryos. Thus, far, immunological imbalance has been considered in stages of pregnancy following implantation. We here show that complement activation against developing human embryos takes place already at the pre-implantation stage. Using confocal microscopy, we observed deposition of activation products on healthy developing embryos, which highlights the need for strict complement regulation. We show that embryos express complement membrane inhibitors and bind so

SUBMITTER: Reichhardt MP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6759579 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature