Molecular phenotype of monocytes at the maternal-fetal interface.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to gain insight into the pathways that are associated with inflammation at the maternal-fetal interface. This study examined the molecular characteristics of monocytes that were derived from the maternal circulation and the placenta of obese women.

Study Design: Mononuclear cells were isolated from placenta, venous maternal, and umbilical cord blood at term delivery; activated monocytes were separated with CD14 immunoselection.

Pregravid obesity associates with increased maternal endotoxemia and metabolic inflammation.

Obese pregnant women develop severe insulin resistance and enhanced systemic and placental inflammation, suggesting associated modifications of endocrine and immune functions. Activation of innate immunity by endotoxins/lipopolysaccharides (LPS) has been proposed as a mechanism for enhancing metabolic alterations in disorders with insulin resistance. The aim of this study was to characterize the immune responses developed by the adipose tissue (AT) and their potential links to maternal endotoxemia in pregnancy with obesity.

CD34+ cells in maternal placental blood are mainly fetal in origin and express endothelial markers.

Fetal CD34+ cells enter the maternal circulation during pregnancy and may persist for decades. These cells are usually depicted as hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. Our objective was to further determine the phenotype of fetal chimeric CD34+ cells in placental maternal blood from the intervillous space (IVS).

Doppler and immunohistochemical evaluation of decidual spiral arteries in early pregnancy.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to estimate spiral artery subchorionic flow at 8-11 gestational weeks (GW) by Doppler ultrasound and then to analyze these vessels in the decidua basalis using histologic, morphometric and immunohistochemical analyses.

Methods: Subchorionic spiral arteries were evaluated in 5 women scheduled for aspiration at 8-11 GW. Flow velocity waveforms were sought using color and pulsed Doppler, and the diastolic/systolic (D/S) index was calculated.

Erythroblasts secrete the nonclassical HLA-G molecule from primitive to definitive hematopoiesis.

The initial steps of primitive hematopoiesis and endothelial vascular formation in the human embryo remain to be defined. Here, we report the identification of a novel marker, namely the nonclassical HLA-G class I molecule, which targets both primitive erythroid cells of the yolk sac and endothelial cells from developing vessels. Moreover, HLA-G was present in its soluble form in the erythropoietic lineage in all organs sustaining primitive to definitive erythropoiesis (ie, aorta-gonad-mesonephros, liver, spleen, and bone marrow).

Pathophysiology of preeclampsia: links with implantation disorders.

The phenomenon of implantation anchors the embryo into the uterine wall and produces a hemochorial placenta that maintains the pregnancy and fetal growth. Implantation and placentation are intimately linked and cannot be dissociated either in time or in space. Preeclampsia is characterized by hypertension and proteinuria.

[The human placenta and its pathologies: focus on oxygen].

At the time of placentation, the conceptus surrounds itself with a trophoblastic layer where the villous tree develops and the uteroplacental circulation takes place. Analysis of the modalities of maternal blood entrance demonstrated a physiological hypoxia ending with the first trimester of pregnancy. Moreover, cultures of first trimester villous explants have shown the role of oxygen in extravillous cytotrophoblast proliferation, decidual invasion and spiral artery remodeling.

TNF-alpha is a predictor of insulin resistance in human pregnancy.

Historically, insulin resistance during pregnancy has been ascribed to increased production of placental hormones and cortisol. The purpose of this study was to test this hypothesis by correlating the longitudinal changes in insulin sensitivity during pregnancy with changes in placental hormones, cortisol, leptin, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha. Insulin resistance was assessed in 15 women (5 with gestational diabetes mellitus [GDM] and 10 with normal glucose tolerance) using the euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp procedure, before pregnancy (pregravid) and during early (12-14 weeks) and late (34-36 weeks) gestation.