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Updated: May 23, 2025

Human Placental and Decidual Organ Cultures to Study Infections at the Maternal-fetal Interface
Published on: July 21, 2016
Macrophage at maternal-fetal Interface: Perspective on pregnancy and related disorders
Haoran Duan1, Weinan Deng1, Julia Kzhyshkowska2
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510150, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Major Obstetric Diseases, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510150, China; Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510150, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Great Bay Area Higher Education Joint Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510150, China; Central Laboratory, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University. Beijing Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Beijing, 100026, China.
Abstract:
Immune cells at the maternal-fetal interface (MFI) undergo dynamic changes to facilitate fetal growth and development during pregnancy. In contrast to the adaptive immune system, where effector T cells, Tregs, and suppressor T cells play key roles in maintaining immune tolerance toward the semi-allogeneic fetus, the innate immune system-comprising decidual nature killer (dNK) cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells (DCs)-makes up a significant portion of the decidual leukocyte population. These innate immune cells are crucial in modulating trophoblast invasion, spiral artery remodeling, and apoptotic cell phagocytosis. Dysregulation of the innate immune system has been linked to impaired uterine vessel remodeling and defective trophoblast invasion, which can lead to complications such as spontaneous abortion, preeclampsia (PE), and preterm. This review focuses on recent advancements in understanding the innate immune defenses at the maternal-fetal interface and their connections to pregnancy-related diseases, with particular emphasis on the role of macrophages.
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