Regulation and Function of Chemokines at the Maternal–Fetal Interface

Abstract

Successful pregnancy requires the maternal immune system to tolerate the semi-allogeneic embryo. A good trophoblast function is also essential for successful embryo implantation and subsequent placental development. Chemokines are initially described in recruiting leukocytes. There are rich chemokines and chemokine receptor system at the maternal–fetal interface. Numerous studies have reported that they not only regulate trophoblast biological behaviors but also participate in the decidual immune response. At the same time, the chemokine system builds an important communication network between fetally derived trophoblast cells and maternally derived decidual cells. However, abnormal functions of chemokines or chemokine receptors are involved in a series of pregnancy complications. As growing evidence points to the roles of chemokines in pregnancy, there is a great need to summarize the available data on this topic. This review aimed to describe the recent research progress on the regulation and function of the main chemokines in pregnancy at the maternal–fetal interface. In addition, we also discussed the potential relationship between chemokines and pregnancy complications.

Spheroid formation induces chemokine production in trophoblast‐derived Swan71 cells

“…Currently, it was wellaccepted that there are abundant chemokines and chemokine receptor systems at the maternal-fetal interface. 19,27 During the remodeling process of maternal arteries, EVT invades decidua and elicits allogeneic immune responses by maternal T and NK cells, which then contribute to maternal-fetal immune tolerance. 28 These soluble factors were also reported to not only regulate EVT invasion but also contribute to the decidual immune response via chemokine receptors.…”

“…The present study indicated that Swan71 cells induce the expression of various chemokines in the spheroid culture. Currently, it was well‐accepted that there are abundant chemokines and chemokine receptor systems at the maternal‐fetal interface 19,27 . During the remodeling process of maternal arteries, EVT invades decidua and elicits allogeneic immune responses by maternal T and NK cells, which then contribute to maternal‐fetal immune tolerance 28 .…”

“…Several studies reported that various chemokine/chemokine receptor systems are present at the maternal-fetal interfaces. 19 It was proposed that these chemokines regulate the decidual immune response via chemokine receptors. 20,21 Since the anchoring villi are located at the maternalfetal interfaces, in this study, we further examined the precise profiles and regulatory factors of chemokine expression in the spheroid-formed Swan71 cells in order to obtain new information concerning the physiological roles of the chemokine/chemokine receptor systems in the early stage of EVT differentiation in the cell column.…”

“…Based on the above speculation, we performed microarray analysis and detected induction of the gene expressions of various chemokines in spheroid‐formed Swan71 cells. Several studies reported that various chemokine/chemokine receptor systems are present at the maternal‐fetal interfaces 19 . It was proposed that these chemokines regulate the decidual immune response via chemokine receptors 20,21 .…”

Characterization of cannabinoid plasma concentration, maternal health, and cytokine levels in a rat model of prenatalCannabissmoke exposure

“…Cytokines and chemokines play an important role in embryogenesis through the mediation of cell survival, proliferation, differentiation, and promotion of cell adhesion to specific sites to coordinate invasion of fetal trophoblasts into the maternal decidua [18][19][20][21]. Dysregulation in the establishment of a healthy placenta can result in maternal and fetal pathologies such as preeclampsia, spontaneous pre-term birth, intra-uterine growth restrictions, and resorption [22][23][24][25][26].…”