Disruption of Placental Immune Privilege by Complications of Pregnancy: Consequences for Maternal and Child Health
Year: 2026
Type: review
Abstract: Maternal chronic conditions, including obesity, diabetes, hypertensive disorders, and autoimmune diseases, promote a systemic proinflammatory environment characterized by oxidative stress and chronic inflammation. These alterations lead to reduced expressions of human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), decreased regulatory T (Treg)cell activity, and increased T helper (Th)1/Th17 responses, disrupting placental immune privilege and resulting in increased production of proinflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress, trophoblastic dysfunction, and placental senescence. This change in immune privilege contributes to fetal growth restriction, preterm birth, congenital anomalies, and long-term cardiometabolic programming in offspring. Understanding the mechanisms underlying placental immune dysregulation may facilitate the development of targeted therapeutic strategies aimed at restoring immune tolerance and reducing inflammatory and hypoxic signaling pathways to improve maternal and neonatal outcomes. This review summarizes the current state of the field of placental immunological privilege and how maternal chronic conditions like obesity, diabetes, hypertensive disorders, and autoimmune diseases can disrupt it and its possible consequences on the progeny.
DOI: 10.3390/ijms27209247
Language: English
Subfield: Immunology
Field: Immunology and Microbiology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,499
OpenAlex ID: W7222933587