Maternal microchimeric cell trafficking and its biological consequences depend on the onset of inflammation at the feto-maternal interface

Seminars in Immunopathology, vol. 47, pp. 8

Abstract

Microchimerism is defined as the presence of a small population of genetically distinct cells within a host that is derived from another individual. Throughout pregnancy, maternal and fetal cells are known to traffic across the feto-maternal interface and result in maternal and fetal microchimerism, respectively. However, the routes of cell transfer, the molecular signaling as well as the timing in which trafficking takes place are still not completely understood. Recently, the presence of inflammation at the feto-maternal interface has been linked with maternal microchimeric cells modulating organ development in the fetus. Here, we review the current literature and suggest that inflammatory processes at the feto-maternal interface tissues are a physiological prerequisite for the establishment of microchimerism. We further propose a spatio-temporal corridor of microchimeric cell migration to potentially explain some biological effects of microchimerism. Additionally, we elaborate on the possible consequences of a shift in this spatio-temporal corridor, potentially responsible for the development of pathologies in the neonate.

Authors 7

1. Emiel Slaats

   Medical University of Graz

   Affiliation as printed

   Gottfried Schatz Research Center, Division of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria

2. Bernadette Bramreiter

   Medical University of Graz

   Affiliation as printed

   Gottfried Schatz Research Center, Division of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria

3. Kristine J. Chua

   University of Notre Dame · University of California, Santa Barbara

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Anthropology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA

   Department of Anthropology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, CA, USA

4. Rachel C. Quilang Aachen Department of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Center

   Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands

5. Katja Sallinger

   Medical University of Graz

   Affiliation as printed

   Gottfried Schatz Research Center, Division of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria

6. Michael Eikmans Aachen Department of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Center

   Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands

7. Thomas Kroneis corresponding

   Medical University of Graz

   Affiliation as printed

   Gottfried Schatz Research Center, Division of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria. thomas.kroneis@medunigraz.at

   Gottfried Schatz Research Center, Division of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria