Decidual immune response following COVID-19 during pregnancy varies by timing of maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection.

ABSTRACT: While COVID-19 infection during pregnancy is common, fetal transmission is rare, suggesting that intrauterine mechanisms form an effective blockade against SARS-CoV-2. Key among these is the decidual immune environment of the placenta. We hypothesize that decidual leukocytes are altered by maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy and that this decidual immune response is shaped by the timing of infection during gestation. To address this hypothesis, we collected decidua basalis tissues at delivery from women with symptomatic COVID-19 during second (2nd Tri COVID, n = 8) or third trimester (3rd Tri COVID, n = 8) and SARS-CoV-2-negative controls (Control, n = 8). Decidual natural killer (NK) cells, macrophages and T cells were evaluated using quantitative microscopy, and pro- and anti-infl

SUBMITTER: Juttukonda LJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8867981 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature