Takeshi Nagamatsu

Sufficient cytotrophoblast (CT) invasion into the uterine wall and subsequent remodeling of maternal uterine vasculature is critical to establish uteroplacental circulation. The production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family molecules is confirmed in placental cells including CTs, but it is not elucidated how the VEGF system in CTs is controlled by oxygen tension and how it is involved in the development of placental circulation. To address this, we explored the effect of oxygen

Citation Nagamatsu T, Schust DJ. The contribution of macrophages to normal and pathological pregnancies. Am J Reprod Immunol 2010 Macrophages represent one of the major leukocyte subsets in the uterine decidua. Owing to their remarkable phenotypic plasticity, decidual macrophages can participate in diverse activities during pregnancy. At baseline, decidual macrophages are characterized by an immunosuppressive phenotype and M2 polarization, supporting feto‐maternal immune tolerance. In early preg

Our findings support the categorization of human DSCs as non-professional APCs and suggest that PD-1 ligands on DSCs, together with major histocompatibility complex class II, may play a crucial role in the regulation of decidual CD4(+) T cell cytokine production. This helps to maintain a balanced cytokine milieu at the feto-maternal interface.

Recent progress in lipid research has unveiled new biologic roles for lysophospholipids as mediators of intercellular signaling. Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) are representative lysophospholipids. Accumulating evidence suggests that, acting as intercellular mediators, these and other lysophospholipids may play important roles in physiological and pathological situations. This review discusses the possible involvement of LPA and S1P in reproductive processes, with

Two prospective multicenter studies demonstrated that a soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1)/placental growth factor (PlGF) ratio cutoff of ≤38 can rule out preeclampsia within 1 week with a negative predictive value (NPV) of 99.3% (PROGNOSIS) and 98.6% (PROGNOSIS Asia). We report a subanalysis of the Japanese cohort from the PROGNOSIS Asia study. Pregnant women with suspected preeclampsia between gestational weeks 18 + 0 days and 36 + 6 days were enrolled at eight Japanese sites. Primary

Although T cells are the most common decidual lymphocyte subset in late pregnancy, little is known about the mechanisms controlling their function. Costimulatory signaling, mediated by inducible costimulator (ICOS)-B7H2 interactions, is a known potent regulator of T-cell activation. We aimed to determine its role in fetomaternal immunity. T cells from matched peripheral blood and term decidua were assessed for ICOS, CD4/CD8, CD45RA/CD45RO and Foxp3 expression and for alterations in cytokine prod

Problem Elafin and secretory leukocyte peptidase inhibitor (SLPI) are unique among antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). This study aimed to determine the expression levels of these AMPs at the cervix during pregnancy and to investigate their association with preterm labor. Method of study Cervical epithelial cells were swabbed from normal pregnant women to evaluate the physiological expression of elafin and SLPI. Cross-sectional analysis was conducted to compare cervical expression levels for SLPI and

The resistance of mouse pregnancy to iNKT cell stimulation by OCH and the prevention of AGC-induced fetal loss by IL-4 were demonstrated. In pregnancy, the regulation of Th1/Th2 polarity by iNKT cells is a key to healthy fetal growth.

These findings support our previous work showing reduced ATX antigen levels in the peripheral blood of pre-eclamptic women. A disturbance in placental ATX production may be linked to poor placental development and systemic maternal symptoms in early-onset PE.