Pathogens and the placental fortress

JR Robbins, AI Bakardjiev - Current opinion in microbiology, 2012 - Elsevier
JR Robbins, AI Bakardjiev
Current opinion in microbiology, 2012Elsevier
Placental infections are major causes of maternal and fetal disease. This review introduces
a new paradigm for placental infections based on current knowledge of placental defenses
and how this barrier can be breached. Transmission of pathogens from mother to fetus can
occur at two sites of direct contact between maternal cells and specialized fetal cells
(trophoblasts) in the human placenta: firstly, maternal immune and endothelial cells
juxtaposed to extravillous trophoblasts in the uterine implantation site and secondly …
Placental infections are major causes of maternal and fetal disease. This review introduces a new paradigm for placental infections based on current knowledge of placental defenses and how this barrier can be breached. Transmission of pathogens from mother to fetus can occur at two sites of direct contact between maternal cells and specialized fetal cells (trophoblasts) in the human placenta: firstly, maternal immune and endothelial cells juxtaposed to extravillous trophoblasts in the uterine implantation site and secondly, maternal blood surrounding the syncytiotrophoblast (SYN). Recent findings suggest that the primary vulnerability is in the implantation site. We explore evidence that the placental SYN evolved as a defense against pathogens, and that inflammation-mediated spontaneous abortion may benefit mother and pathogen.
Elsevier