A new type of cell that’s seen only during pregnancy was recently discovered after scientists charted a map of the placenta and uterus.
The map shows how these unique cells grow and develop throughout the stages of pregnancy. It is a breakthrough that is reshaping how scientists understand pregnancy at the cellular level.
According to the research team, the cells are not present in the uterus outside of pregnancy. They appear when gestation starts and the uterine lining changes to hold the embryo.
The cells are believed to be involved with linking the placenta to the maternal blood supply. They also carry receptors that respond to cannabinoids, which are chemicals produced by the body, as well as compounds found in THC and CBD. The cells’ sensitivity to cannabinoids may help explain why cannabis use in pregnancy is a risk.
Previously, other research groups have used similar techniques to map the placenta and uterus, but they only covered certain phases of pregnancy.
In contrast, the new map looks at early pregnancy all the way to birth. It incorporates data from tissues that were collected between 5 and 39 weeks of pregnancy. The tissues were then stored in facilities at UCSF and Stanford University.
Overall, the researchers analyzed about 1.2 million placental and uterine cells, including 200,000 isolated cells and a million cells in their original locations within the tissue.
They found that cells are organized in specific regions in the uterus and placenta, and they also have different functions. The work demonstrates how these cells contribute to a healthy pregnancy.
Some fetal cells invade the uterus and its major arteries early in pregnancy. They aid in blood flow to the placenta. The researchers used machine learning to study this further.
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If the cells do not penetrate the uterus deeply enough or they penetrate too deeply, problems like preeclampsia or placenta accreta might occur. The invasion needs to be carefully controlled to ensure a healthy pregnancy.
The newly identified cell type can assist in regulating the invasion. The cell type sends out signals to prevent the process from happening too quickly.
More research in the future could determine whether changes in these signals lead to pregnancy disorders or complications.
“If we include more cells, more samples, a lot of new, exciting discoveries could be made,” said Jingjing Li, a senior author of the study and an associate professor of neurology at UCSF. “So, this is really a starting point.”
The team is now working with other researchers to compare healthy pregnancies and pregnancies with complications. They plan to increase the number of cells they analyze in order to gain a complete picture of cells in the pregnant uterus.
The findings of the study were published in the journal Nature.
By Emily Chan
Emily Chan is a writer who covers lifestyle and news content. She graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in... More about Emily Chan
