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Insights in Reproductive Immunology and Placental Pathology, 2nd Edition
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Insights in Reproductive Immunology and Placental Pathology, 2nd Edition

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Immunology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 May 2025 | Viewed by 2831

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Dariusz Szukiewicz

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biophysics, Physiology and Pathophysiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Warsaw, Chalubinskiego 5 (4th Floor), 02-004 Warsaw, Poland
Interests: inflammation; cytokine network; sirtuins; endothelial signaling; human placenta; stem cells; pathophysiology of diabetes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Reproductive immunology is a rapidly developing field that focuses on the study of the phenomenon of immunotolerance between the mother and the fetus. In the light of the latest research results, interaction rather than competition between the reproductive and immune systems enables the normal preservation of the reproductive function. This interaction covers all stages, from the formation of female and male gametes, through fertilization, implantation, and placentation, intrauterine development of the fetus, to the delivery of a healthy newborn at term. Malfunctioning of the immune/reproductive interaction at each of these stages may predispose one to infertility or an abnormal course of pregnancy. It is noteworthy that the intensively studied immunology of stem cells, which are abundantly present in the reproductive tissues (e.g., placenta, endometrium), significantly increased our knowledge in the field of reproductive immunology. This does not change the fact that the essence of immunotolerance in pregnancy, and thus most issues in the immunopathology of pregnancy, remain unclear.

This Special Issue is dedicated to all aspects of reproductive immunology, including the immunology of pregnancy in health and disease. All placental disorders related to the activity of the immune system are also included within the scope of this Special Issue. When considering your submission, please keep in mind that IJMS is a journal of molecular science. However, submissions of clinical studies with biomolecular experiments or pathological research with case sample data are welcomed.

Prof. Dr. Dariusz Szukiewicz
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • gamete immunology
  • in vitro fertilization
  • infertility
  • immunocontraception
  • implantation
  • placentation
  • immunotolerance
  • reproductive immunology
  • inflammation
  • cytokine network
  • placenta-derived stem cells
  • placental development
  • placental insufficiency
  • endometriosis
  • immunopathology of pregnancy
  • sex hormones

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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24 pages, 5258 KiB  
Article
CD8+ and CD8− NK Cells and Immune Checkpoint Networks in Peripheral Blood During Healthy Pregnancy
by Matyas Meggyes, David U. Nagy, Livia Mezosi, Beata Polgar and Laszlo Szereday
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(1), 428; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26010428 - 6 Jan 2025
Viewed by 693
Abstract
Pregnancy involves significant immunological changes to support fetal development while protecting the mother from infections. A growing body of evidence supports the importance of immune checkpoint pathways, especially at the maternal–fetal interface, although limited information is available about the peripheral expression of these [...] Read more.
Pregnancy involves significant immunological changes to support fetal development while protecting the mother from infections. A growing body of evidence supports the importance of immune checkpoint pathways, especially at the maternal–fetal interface, although limited information is available about the peripheral expression of these molecules by CD8+ and CD8− NK cell subsets during the trimesters of pregnancy. Understanding the dynamics of these immune cells and their checkpoint pathways is crucial for elucidating their roles in pregnancy maintenance and potential complications. This study aims to investigate the peripheral expression and functional characteristics of CD8+ and CD8− NK cell subsets throughout pregnancy, providing insights into their contributions to maternal and fetal health. A total of 34 healthy women were enrolled from the first, 30 from the second and 40 from the third trimester of pregnancy. At the same time, 35 healthy age-matched non-pregnant women formed the control group. From peripheral blood, mononuclear cells were separated and stored at −80 °C. CD8+ and CD8− NK cell subsets were analyzed from freshly thawed samples, and surface and intracellular staining was performed using flow cytometric analyses. The proportions of CD56+ NK cells in peripheral blood were similar across groups. While CD8− NKdim cells increased significantly in all trimesters compared to non-pregnant controls, CD8+ NKdim cells showed no significant changes. CD8− NKbright cells had higher frequencies throughout pregnancy, whereas CD8+ NKbright cells significantly increased only in the first and second trimesters. The expression levels of immune checkpoint molecules, such as PD-1 and PD-L1, and cytotoxic-activity-related molecules were stable, with notable perforin and granzyme B increases in CD8− NKbright cells throughout pregnancy. Our study shows that peripheral NK cell populations, especially CD8− subsets, are predominant during pregnancy. This shift suggests a crucial role for CD8− NK cells in balancing maternal immune tolerance and surveillance. The stable expression of immune checkpoint molecules indicates that other regulatory mechanisms may be at work. These findings enhance our understanding of peripheral immune dynamics in pregnancy and suggest that targeting CD8− NKbright cell functions could help manage pregnancy-related immune complications. This research elucidates the stable distribution and functional characteristics of peripheral NK cells during pregnancy, with CD8− subsets being more prevalent. The increased activity of CD8− NKbright cells suggests their critical role in maintaining immune surveillance. Our findings provide a basis for future studies to uncover the mechanisms regulating NK cell function in pregnancy, potentially leading to new treatments for immune-related pregnancy complications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insights in Reproductive Immunology and Placental Pathology, 2nd Edition)
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Review

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19 pages, 617 KiB  
Review
The Immunomodulatory Role of Regulatory T Cells in Preterm Birth and Associated Pregnancy Outcomes
by Nicoleta Mureanu, Amanda M. Bowman, Imogen A. Porter-Wright, Priya Verma, Athina Efthymiou, Kypros H. Nicolaides, Cristiano Scotta, Giovanna Lombardi, Rachel M. Tribe and Panicos Shangaris
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(22), 11878; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252211878 - 5 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1510
Abstract
Spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB), defined as live birth before 37 weeks of gestational age, is associated with immune dysregulation and pro-inflammatory conditions that profoundly impact newborn health. The question of immune integrity at the maternal-foetal interface is a focus of recent studies centring [...] Read more.
Spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB), defined as live birth before 37 weeks of gestational age, is associated with immune dysregulation and pro-inflammatory conditions that profoundly impact newborn health. The question of immune integrity at the maternal-foetal interface is a focus of recent studies centring not only sPTB but the conditions often affiliated with this outcome. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a critical anti-inflammatory role in pregnancy, promoting foetal tolerance and placentation. Due to this gestational role, it is hypothesised that decreased or dysfunctional Tregs may be implicated in cases of sPTB. This review examines studies comparing Treg presence in healthy term pregnancies and those with sPTB-associated conditions. Conflicting findings across different conditions and within sPTB itself have been identified. However, notable findings from the research indicate increased proinflammatory cytokines in pregnancies suffering from premature rupture of membranes (pPROM), chorioamnionitis, infection, preeclampsia, and gestational diabetes (GDM). Additionally, reduced Treg levels were identified in preeclampsia, GDM, and pPROM as well as chorioamnionitis presenting with increased Treg dysfunctionality. Treg deficiencies may contribute to health issues in preterm newborns. Current sPTB treatments are limited, underscoring the potential of in utero therapies targeting inflammation, including T cell interventions. Future research aims to establish consensus on the role of Tregs in sPTB and associated conditions and advancing understanding of mechanisms leading to Treg deficiencies in adverse pregnancy outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insights in Reproductive Immunology and Placental Pathology, 2nd Edition)
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