Project description:Maternal intervillous monocytes (MIMs) and fetal Hofbauer cells (HBCs) are myeloid-derived immune cells at the maternal-fetal interface. Little is known regarding the molecular phenotypes and roles of these distinct monocyte/macrophage populations. Here, we used RNA sequencing to investigate the transcriptional profiles of MIMs and HBCs in six normal term pregnancies. Our analyses revealed distinct transcriptomes of MIMs and HBCs. Genes involved in differentiation and cell organization pathways were more highly expressed in MIMs vs. HBCs. In contrast, HBCs had higher expression of genes involved in inflammatory responses and cell surface receptor signaling. Maternal gravidity influenced monocyte programming, as expression of pro-inflammatory molecules was significantly higher in MIMs from multigravidas compared to primigravidas. In HBCs, multigravidas displayed enrichment of gene pathways involved in cell-cell signaling and differentiation. In summary, our results demonstrated that MIMs and HBCs have highly divergent transcriptional signatures, reflecting their distinct origins, locations, functions, and roles in inflammatory responses. Our data further suggested that maternal gravidity influences the gene signatures of MIMs and HBCs, potentially modulating the interplay between tolerance and trained immunity. The phenomenon of reproductive immune memory may play a novel role in the differential susceptibility of primigravidas to pregnancy complications.
Project description:Maternal immune tolerance toward to the semi-allograft fetus is a prerequisite condition for successful pregnancy. However, the role of maternal monocytes in the induction of systemic immune tolerance is poorly understood. Here we report that placenta facilitates maternal immune tolerance by extruding exosomes. Maternal monocytes were transformed into an immunosuppressive phenotype after taking up exosomes. Mechanistically, PD-L1 was significantly increased in pEXO-educated monocytes via miRNA-29a-3p/PTEN signaling pathway. In addition, pEXO-treated monocytes could increase Treg pool in maternal blood through a direct cell-cell interaction. Moreover, Th1 cytokines, IFNγ and TNF-α, in monocyte-T cell co-culture system were significantly decreased. Together, our results indicated that maternal monocyte is indispensable components in systemic immune tolerance establishment.
Project description:In the study presented here, microRNA expression was profiled in blood samples from mothers of children with autism, with known stress exposure during pregnancy. 2500 mature microRNAs were examined. Thirty-four maternal blood samples were examined in this study. Samples were divided into five groups based on maternal SERT genotypes (LL/LS/SS) and prenatal stress level (High/Low).
Project description:Maternal stress has long been associated with lower birthweight but mechanisms remain elusive. This study explored how maternal stress may impact changes in gene expression within a cohort of mother-placenta-newborn triads in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo We used microarrays to detail the global programme of gene expression underlying the impact of maternal stress on newborn birthweight and identified that global placental gene expression may partially mediate the negative impact of maternal war stress on newborn birthweight.
Project description:Maternal exposure to social stress during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of psychiatric disorders in the offspring in later life. How the effects of maternal social stress are transmitted to the developing foetus is unclear. Using a rat model of maternal social stress during pregnancy, we explored the mechanisms by which maternal stress is conveyed to the foetus and the potential for targeted treatment to prevent disease in the offspring. Maternal stress induced oxidative stress in the placenta, but not in the foetal brain, which was prevented by a single administration of nanoparticle-bound antioxidant prior to the stress exposure. Moreover, this antioxidant treatment prevented prenatal stress-induced anxiety-like behaviour in juvenile male offspring, along with neurological and gene expression changes in the offspring brain. In vitro, placental conditioned medium or foetal plasma from stressed pregnancies caused changes to cultured cortical neurons, similar to those observed in the brains of juvenile offspring exposed to prenatal stress, and were found to contain altered levels of extracellular microRNAs but not corticosterone. The present study highlights the crucial role of the placenta, and molecules secreted from the placenta, in foetal brain development and provides evidence of the potential for treatment that can prevent maternal stress-induced foetal programming of neurological disease.