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Extracellular vesicles in spontaneous preterm birth.

Ramkumar Menon1, Hend Shahin1

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American Journal of Reproductive Immunology (New York, N.Y. : 1989)
|September 25, 2020
PubMed
Summary

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), including exosomes and microvesicles (MVs), mediate feto-maternal communication critical for pregnancy and parturition. Fetal EVs show potential as biomarkers for predicting adverse pregnancy outcomes like preterm birth.

Keywords:
amniotic fluidbiomarkersexosomesmicrovesiclessignaling

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Area of Science:

  • Perinatal Medicine
  • Reproductive Biology
  • Cellular Communication

Background:

  • Feto-maternal communication is vital for maintaining pregnancy and initiating labor.
  • Extracellular vesicles (EVs), including exosomes and microvesicles (MVs), are emerging as key mediators of this communication.
  • While exosomes are well-studied, the role of MVs in reproduction remains largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the characteristics and functions of EVs and MVs in the feto-maternal unit.
  • To explore the potential of EVs as biomarkers for predicting adverse pregnancy outcomes, particularly preterm birth.
  • To highlight the current knowledge gaps regarding the role of MVs in reproductive processes.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on extracellular vesicles (EVs) and microvesicles (MVs) in pregnancy.
  • Analysis of existing data on EV cargo and their association with term and preterm birth.
  • Synthesis of information on EV biogenesis, characteristics, and placental transfer.

Main Results:

  • Exosomes are identified as crucial communicators between the fetus and mother, capable of crossing the placenta.
  • Fetal exosomes under labor conditions can induce parturition-associated changes in maternal tissues.
  • Exosomes with inflammatory cargo are implicated in causing preterm birth in animal models, suggesting biomarker potential for high-risk pregnancies.

Conclusions:

  • Extracellular vesicles, particularly exosomes, play significant functional roles in feto-maternal communication and parturition.
  • EV cargo analysis offers promise for developing predictive biomarkers for adverse pregnancy outcomes like preterm birth.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the specific roles and functions of microvesicles in reproduction.