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Trans-inner Cell Mass Injection of Embryonic Stem Cells Leads to Higher Chimerism Rates
Published on: May 29, 2018
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Microchimerism as a source of information on future pregnancies
1Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham TW20 0EX, UK.
Proceedings. Biological Sciences
|August 23, 2023
Summary
Maternal microchimerism, fetal cells in mothers, may signal future pregnancy risks. This research proposes fetal cells inform fetuses about genetic relatedness in subsequent pregnancies, potentially impacting maternal health.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Immunology
- Developmental Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Fetal cells transfer to mothers during pregnancy, creating maternal microchimerism.
- These microchimeric cells accumulate from all pregnancies and are linked to reproductive and autoimmune diseases.
- The precise function of microchimeric cells remains largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a novel function for microchimeric cells: informing the fetus about future genetic relatedness in maternal siblings.
- To hypothesize a mechanism by which fetal cells modulate maternal immune responses based on genetic likelihood.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual framework based on existing literature on fetal microchimerism and immunology.
- Theoretical modeling of fetal cell transfer and maternal immune response dynamics.
Main Results:
- Fetal cells may act as signals to the fetus regarding the genetic composition of future siblings.
- An increased number of fetal cells eliciting a stronger maternal immune response is predicted when genetic relatedness is less likely.
- This mechanism could explain associations between microchimeric cells and pre-eclampsia, particularly in genetically diverse maternal microbiomes.
Conclusions:
- Microchimeric cells play a crucial role in fetal-maternal communication regarding future reproductive genetic risks.
- The proposed mechanism offers a new perspective on the etiology of pregnancy complications and autoimmune diseases.
- Further research and clinical validation are needed to confirm these hypotheses and their diagnostic/therapeutic implications.
Keywords:
autoimmune diseasesgame theoryinclusive fitnessintra-genomic conflictparent–offspring conflictpre-eclampsiaMore Related Videos
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