Researchers at the University of Adelaide's Robinson Research Institute have uncovered a new critical role for the immune system in supporting healthy pregnancies.
The findings, published in JCI Insight, offer fresh insight into conditions like preeclampsia - a serious pregnancy disorder characterised by high blood pressure and poor placental development - that affects two to eight per cent of all pregnant women.
Researchers used an advanced mouse model to demonstrate the importance of regulatory T (Treg) cells, a specialised type of anti-inflammatory immune cell, in allowing healthy blood supply to the placenta - an organ essential for fetal growth and survival.
"An altered T cell balance has been implicated in preeclampsia, but it has been unclear whether and how Treg cells affect the remodelling of arteries in the uterus, to support the development of the placenta," said Dr Alison Care, corresponding author and Future Making Fellow at the Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide.
Women with pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia often have reduced numbers of Treg cells, accompanied by poor placental function and elevated inflammation. The research team demonstrated how a deficiency in Treg cells disrupts the placental blood supply, leading to impaired fetal growth and pregnancy loss.
Encouragingly, the research also showed that transferring healthy Treg cells in early pregnancy could restore immune and vascular function, preventing these complications.
"This research highlights how essential these immune cells are in orchestrating the vascular changes required to support a healthy pregnancy," said Dr Care.
"It provides valuable insights into the mechanism by which immune dysfunction may contribute to complications."
The findings underscore the complexities between immune tolerance and vascular adaptation in pregnancy, paving the way for potential new treatments targeting immune dysfunction to prevent or manage complications like preeclampsia.
"This brings renewed hope for better treatments to assist millions of women worldwide affected by pregnancy complications, offering a pathway to improved outcomes for mothers and babies alike," said Dr Care.
"Currently, there are no treatments available to halt the progression of preeclampsia."
"Identifying new therapeutic targets is crucial, not only to develop effective interventions that improve pregnancy outcomes but also to mitigate the long-term risk of cardiovascular disease for both affected mothers and their offspring."
This work was generously supported by the Heart Foundation of Australia and the National Health and Medical Research Council.
