Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is defined as two or more consecutive pregnancy losses before the 20th week of gestation, occuring in 1%–3% of reproductive women. Unexplained RPL (URPL) is a heterogeneous condition affecting approximately 50% of RPL cases, with one contributing factor thought to be a disruption in maternal immune tolerance. Various immune effectors and molecules in the immune-microenvironment establish specific maternal tolerance toward the semi-allogeneic fetus during pregnancy. Immune cells including innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), myeloid cells, T cells and B cells have been found to contribute to maintaining this maternal immunological tolerance during pregnancy. ILCs have been found to be the most abundant immune cells in the pregnant uterus, with many studies focusing on the relationship between RPL and either T cells or natural killer (NK) cells in peripheral blood and the endometrium/decidua. Despite progress in uncovering the roles of NK, and regulatory T cells and cytokines in pregnancy, the immune heterogeneity in patients with URPL remains elusive.
In this Research Topic, we aim to improve our understanding of the disruption of maternal immune tolerance during pregnancy associated to URPL. We welcome the submission of Original Research, Review, Mini Review, Case Report, Opinion, and Perspective articles, covering, but not limited to, the following sub-topics:
• Reviews of our understanding of maternal immune tolerance in pregnancy and the disruptions associated to UPRL
• Novel understanding of disruptions in materal tolerance associated with URPL
• The roles of different T cell subsets (T helper cells, Treg, etc.) in UPRL
• The roles of NK cell subsets in URPL
• The roles of myeloid cells in UPRL
• The roles of cytokines in nurturing and disrupting pregnancy
• Immune signatures associated with URPL
• Immunotherapeutics for the treatment of URPL
• The use of novel technologies to understand immune heterogeneity contributing to URPL
Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is defined as two or more consecutive pregnancy losses before the 20th week of gestation, occuring in 1%–3% of reproductive women. Unexplained RPL (URPL) is a heterogeneous condition affecting approximately 50% of RPL cases, with one contributing factor thought to be a disruption in maternal immune tolerance. Various immune effectors and molecules in the immune-microenvironment establish specific maternal tolerance toward the semi-allogeneic fetus during pregnancy. Immune cells including innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), myeloid cells, T cells and B cells have been found to contribute to maintaining this maternal immunological tolerance during pregnancy. ILCs have been found to be the most abundant immune cells in the pregnant uterus, with many studies focusing on the relationship between RPL and either T cells or natural killer (NK) cells in peripheral blood and the endometrium/decidua. Despite progress in uncovering the roles of NK, and regulatory T cells and cytokines in pregnancy, the immune heterogeneity in patients with URPL remains elusive.
In this Research Topic, we aim to improve our understanding of the disruption of maternal immune tolerance during pregnancy associated to URPL. We welcome the submission of Original Research, Review, Mini Review, Case Report, Opinion, and Perspective articles, covering, but not limited to, the following sub-topics:
• Reviews of our understanding of maternal immune tolerance in pregnancy and the disruptions associated to UPRL
• Novel understanding of disruptions in materal tolerance associated with URPL
• The roles of different T cell subsets (T helper cells, Treg, etc.) in UPRL
• The roles of NK cell subsets in URPL
• The roles of myeloid cells in UPRL
• The roles of cytokines in nurturing and disrupting pregnancy
• Immune signatures associated with URPL
• Immunotherapeutics for the treatment of URPL
• The use of novel technologies to understand immune heterogeneity contributing to URPL
