Isolation and characterization of uterine leukocytes collected using a uterine swab technique.

Problem: Leukocytes from the maternal-fetal interface are a valuable tool to study local changes in immune function during pregnancy; however, sampling can be challenging due to inadequate tissue availability and the invasive nature of placental bed biopsy. Here, we aim to purify and characterize leukocytes from paired peripheral and uterine blood samples to assess whether a less invasive method of uterine blood collection could yield a population of enriched uterine leukocytes suitable for ex vivo and in vitro analyses.

Method Of Study: Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and uterine blood mononuclear cells (UBMC) expressed from surgical gauze post C-section were isolated, and immunophenotypic information was acquired by multi-parameter flow cytometry.

Bisphenol S and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Signaling in Human Placental Cytotrophoblasts.

Background: Bisphenol S (BPS) is an endocrine-disrupting chemical and the second most abundant bisphenol detected in humans. BPS exposure leads to reduced binucleate cell number in the ovine placenta. Binucleate cells form by cellular fusion, similar to the human placental syncytiotrophoblast layer.