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Updated: May 13, 2026
08:19
Isolation of Leukocytes from the Human Maternal-fetal Interface
Published on: May 21, 2015
Maternal circulating leukocytes display early chemotactic responsiveness during late gestation
Nardhy Gomez-Lopez1, Satomi Tanaka, Zoya Zaeem
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics and Physiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton T6G 2S2, Canada.
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
|March 1, 2013
Summary
Maternal leukocytes become more responsive to reproductive tissue signals before labor begins. This early immune cell activity in the uterus may trigger parturition, preceding hormonal shifts.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive immunology
- Maternal-fetal interface biology
- Parturition mechanisms
Background:
- Parturition is recognized as an immunological event, but its trigger remains unclear.
- This study investigates the role of leukocyte responsiveness in initiating parturition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if peripheral leukocytes exhibit increased chemotactic responsiveness to reproductive tissues prior to parturition.
- To correlate leukocyte changes with uterine activation and hormonal shifts during late gestation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized pregnant Long-Evans rats at gestational days (GD) 17, 20, and 22.
- Employed Boyden chamber assays, flow cytometry, qPCR, and ELISAs to analyze leukocyte function and tissue factors.
Main Results:
- GD20 maternal leukocytes showed increased migration towards uterine and cervical extracts compared to GD17.
- Leukocyte gene expression of chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (Ccl2) increased on GD20, altering immune cell proportions.
- Tissue chemotactic activity and specific chemokines increased later, on GD22, while prostaglandin and oxytocin receptor expression surged between GD20-22.
Conclusions:
- Maternal circulating leukocytes demonstrate heightened chemotactic responsiveness early in the parturition process.
- This enhanced leukocyte responsiveness precedes significant hormonal changes and may facilitate uterine infiltration, contributing to parturition initiation.
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