A Microphysiological Device to Model the Choriodecidual Interface Immune Status during Pregnancy

Area of Science:

• Reproductive immunology
• Maternal-fetal interface biology
• Infectious disease research

Background:

• The maternal-fetal interface is crucial for pregnancy success.
• Immune cell quiescence at the choriodecidual interface prevents preterm birth.
• Mechanisms maintaining immune homeostasis or barrier function compromise are unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To model the human choriodecidual immune interface in vitro.
• To investigate immune responses to maternal infection at this interface.
• To understand maternal-fetal crosstalk in regulating immune balance.

Main Methods:

• Developed a two-chamber microphysiological system (MPS) modeling the choriodecidual interface.
• Used lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce a maternal infection model.
• Analyzed immune cell phenotypes, cytokine profiles, and cell-specific markers (HLA-DR, HLA-G, IL-8, IL-10, progesterone).

Main Results:

• LPS induced a proinflammatory decidual phenotype with decreased HLA-DR and increased IL-8.
• Infection model led to increased immune cell infiltration into the chorion (chorionitis).
• Immune cells shifted towards an activated state (NK cells, neutrophils); chorion cells increased progesterone and soluble HLA-G.

Conclusions:

• The MPS effectively models choriodecidual immune cell infiltration during infection.
• Maternal infection disrupts immune homeostasis at the feto-maternal interface.
• This model aids in studying maternal-fetal crosstalk and immune regulation during pregnancy complications.