BACKGROUND In this study, we aimed to investigate the expression of NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) and caspase-1 in fetal membrane and placental tissues of patients with premature rupture of membrane (PROM), and to explore their role in PROM. MATERIAL AND METHODS Ninety women participated in this study: a control group of 30 healthy pregnant women, 30 with PPROM, and 30 with TPROM. Immunoh...

placental site trophoblastic tumor (pstt) is a very rare variant of gestational trophoblastic tumor. it can occur after normal termination of pregnancy or spontaneous abortion and ectopic or molar pregnancy. there is a wide range of clinical manifestations from a benign condition to an aggressive disease with fatal outcome. one of the most important characteristics of pstt, unlike other forms o...

background: respiratory syncytical virus infection is the most common cause of bronchiolitis and viral pneumonia in infancy. objective: to investigate the placental transfer of rsv-specific igg in iranian mothers. methods: the antibodies were measured in sera of 146 mother/newborn pairs using a commercially available indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (elisa). the studied subjects were ...

Trophoblast invasion into uterine tissues represents a hallmark of first trimester placental development. As expression of serum amyloid A4 (SAA4) occurs in tumorigenic and invasive tissues we here investigated whether SAA4 is present in trophoblast-like human AC1-M59/Jeg-3 cells and trophoblast preparations of human first trimester and term placenta. SAA4 mRNA was expressed in non-stimulated a...

OBJECTIVE To derive new human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines on pathogen-free human placental fibroblast feeders under serum-free conditions. Because the embryo develops in close contact with extraembryonic membranes, we hypothesized that placental mesenchyme might replicate the stem cell niche in situ. DESIGN We isolated and characterized human placental fibroblast lines from individual do...

Low birth weight is associated with both short term problems and the fetal programming of adult onset diseases, including an increased risk of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Placental insufficiency leading to intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) contributes to the prevalence of diseases with developmental origins. Currently there are no therapies for IUGR or placental insuffici...

Adhesion of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes to placental chondroitin 4-sulfate (CSA) has been linked to the severe disease outcome of pregnancy-associated malaria. Soluble polysaccharides that release mature-stage parasitized erythrocytes into the peripheral circulation may help elucidate these interactions and have the potential to aid in developing therapeutic strategies. We have ...

During pregnancy, the placenta forms the interface between mother and fetus. Highly controlled regulation of trans-placental trafficking is therefore essential for the healthy development of the growing fetus. Extracellular vesicle-mediated transfer of protein and nucleic acids from the human placenta into the maternal circulation is well documented; the possibility that this trafficking is bi-...

The human placental transfer of maternal IgG is crucial for fetal and newborn immunity. Low-affinity immunoglobulin gamma Fc region receptor IIb2 (FCGR2B2 or FcγRIIb2) is exclusively expressed in an IgG-containing, vesicle-like organelle (the FCGR2B2 compartment) in human placental endothelial cells; thus, we hypothesized that the FCGR2B2 compartment functions as an IgG transporter. In this stu...

Large numbers of macrophages can be found in an animal's uteroplacental unit. This high concentration of macrophages suggests they must play an important role during placental development. To gain a better understanding of the functional capacity of placental macrophages, we have obtained a highly enriched placental macrophage culture and have derived several cell lines from this population. Bo...