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REVIEW article

Front. Cell Dev. Biol.

Sec. Molecular and Cellular Reproduction

Volume 13 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fcell.2025.1590212

The Role of Amniotic Epithelial Cells in Preterm Birth: Mechanisms and Clinical Implications Running head: Roles of Amniotic Epithelial Cells in Preterm Birth

Provisionally accepted
Lulu MengLulu Meng1Jing YangJing Yang2,3,4Yijie GaoYijie Gao1Yiran XieYiran Xie1Miaomiao ChenMiaomiao Chen2,4Wangping HaoWangping Hao2,3,4Yi LuoYi Luo2,3,4Ping RuPing Ru1Ling WangLing Wang1Zhiying HeZhiying He2,3,4,5Ming LiuMing Liu1*
  • 1Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
  • 2Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
  • 3Shanghai iCELL Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Shanghai 200335, P. R. China., Shanghai, China
  • 4Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Stem Cells Translational Medicine, Shanghai, China
  • 5Shanghai Institute of Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation, Shanghai China, 200120, Shanghai, China

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Preterm birth (PTB), defined as delivery before 37 weeks of gestation, poses a significant global health challenge. This review comprehensively examines the multifaceted role of amnion epithelial cells (AECs) in normal labor induction and preterm birth. AECs, derived from the amniotic ectoderm, exhibit paracrine effects, low immunogenicity, and non-tumorigenicity properties. They contribute to maintaining pregnancy through various aspects, such as immunomodulation, feto-maternal tolerance, and repair of placental membrane microfractures. Disruptions in AEC functions lead to preterm birth through mechanisms involving inflammation, oxidative stress, and the release of proinflammatory cytokines. This review highlights the therapeutic potentials of AECs, particularly in the context of preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) and the related complications. The disruption of AECs has shown promise as a predictive biomarker for preterm birth, whereas AECs as a potential cell therapy have been shown to benefit various neonatal disorders. This review emphasizes the need for further research to fully elucidate the mechanisms underlying the role of AECs in preterm birth and to explore their clinical applications for improving pregnancy outcomes.

Keywords: Amniotic epithelial cells (AECs), Preterm birth (PTB), Preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM), Cellular senescence (CS), inflammatory responses

Received: 09 Mar 2025; Accepted: 29 Jul 2025.

Copyright: © 2025 Meng, Yang, Gao, Xie, Chen, Hao, Luo, Ru, Wang, He and Liu. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

* Correspondence: Ming Liu, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China

Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

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