Endometrial Microbiota and Immune Tolerance in Pregnancy

Recent studies have demonstrated that the uterus has its own microbiota. However, there is no consensus on endometrial microbiota composition, thus its role in the healthy uterine environment is still a frontier topic. Endometrial receptivity is key to embryo implantation, and in this specific conte...

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Main Authors: Annalisa Inversetti, Enrica Zambella, Alice Guarano, Marinella Dell’Avanzo, Nicoletta Di Simone
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-02-01
Series:International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/3/2995
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author Annalisa Inversetti
Enrica Zambella
Alice Guarano
Marinella Dell’Avanzo
Nicoletta Di Simone
author_facet Annalisa Inversetti
Enrica Zambella
Alice Guarano
Marinella Dell’Avanzo
Nicoletta Di Simone
author_sort Annalisa Inversetti
collection DOAJ
description Recent studies have demonstrated that the uterus has its own microbiota. However, there is no consensus on endometrial microbiota composition, thus its role in the healthy uterine environment is still a frontier topic. Endometrial receptivity is key to embryo implantation, and in this specific context immunological tolerance against fetal antigens and the tightly regulated expression of inflammatory mediators are fundamental. According to recent evidence, endometrial microbiota may interact in a very dynamic way with the immune system during the peri-conceptional stage and later during pregnancy. For this reason, a condition of dysbiosis might lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes. The aim of this review is to summarize the evidence on the molecular mechanisms by which the endometrial microbiota may interact with the immune system. For this purpose, the link between dysbiosis and reproductive disorders, such as infertility, recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL), and preterm birth, will be discussed. In conclusion, the most recent findings from molecular analyses will be reported to illustrate and possibly overcome the intrinsic limitations of uterine microbiota detection (low endometrial biomass, high risk of contamination during sampling, and lack of standardization).
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spelling doaj.art-d100caf5206e4a8ba797f3a883d157412023-11-16T17:05:29ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672023-02-01243299510.3390/ijms24032995Endometrial Microbiota and Immune Tolerance in PregnancyAnnalisa Inversetti0Enrica Zambella1Alice Guarano2Marinella Dell’Avanzo3Nicoletta Di Simone4Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, Pieve Emanuele, 20072 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, Pieve Emanuele, 20072 Milan, ItalyHumanitas San Pio X, Via Francesco Nava 31, 20159 Milan, ItalyHumanitas San Pio X, Via Francesco Nava 31, 20159 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, Pieve Emanuele, 20072 Milan, ItalyRecent studies have demonstrated that the uterus has its own microbiota. However, there is no consensus on endometrial microbiota composition, thus its role in the healthy uterine environment is still a frontier topic. Endometrial receptivity is key to embryo implantation, and in this specific context immunological tolerance against fetal antigens and the tightly regulated expression of inflammatory mediators are fundamental. According to recent evidence, endometrial microbiota may interact in a very dynamic way with the immune system during the peri-conceptional stage and later during pregnancy. For this reason, a condition of dysbiosis might lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes. The aim of this review is to summarize the evidence on the molecular mechanisms by which the endometrial microbiota may interact with the immune system. For this purpose, the link between dysbiosis and reproductive disorders, such as infertility, recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL), and preterm birth, will be discussed. In conclusion, the most recent findings from molecular analyses will be reported to illustrate and possibly overcome the intrinsic limitations of uterine microbiota detection (low endometrial biomass, high risk of contamination during sampling, and lack of standardization).https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/3/2995endometriummicrobiomepregnancyimplantation
spellingShingle Annalisa Inversetti
Enrica Zambella
Alice Guarano
Marinella Dell’Avanzo
Nicoletta Di Simone
Endometrial Microbiota and Immune Tolerance in Pregnancy
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
endometrium
microbiome
pregnancy
implantation
title Endometrial Microbiota and Immune Tolerance in Pregnancy
title_full Endometrial Microbiota and Immune Tolerance in Pregnancy
title_fullStr Endometrial Microbiota and Immune Tolerance in Pregnancy
title_full_unstemmed Endometrial Microbiota and Immune Tolerance in Pregnancy
title_short Endometrial Microbiota and Immune Tolerance in Pregnancy
title_sort endometrial microbiota and immune tolerance in pregnancy
topic endometrium
microbiome
pregnancy
implantation
url https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/3/2995
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AT enricazambella endometrialmicrobiotaandimmunetoleranceinpregnancy
AT aliceguarano endometrialmicrobiotaandimmunetoleranceinpregnancy
AT marinelladellavanzo endometrialmicrobiotaandimmunetoleranceinpregnancy
AT nicolettadisimone endometrialmicrobiotaandimmunetoleranceinpregnancy