Multidimensional molecular profiling reveals decidual and circulating NK cell dynamics in early and late pregnancy.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Human pregnancy presents a unique physiological state that allows for growth of an antigenically dissimilar foetus. The immune system plays a key role in establishing and maintaining successful pregnancy, yet detailed understanding of immunological responses in pregnancy is lacking. METHODS: We defined the immunological landscape in pregnancy by screening >350 markers on NK cells, CD4+, CD8+ and γδ T cells, B cells and monocytes in third-trimester pregnancy peripheral blood, cord blood and decidua, and by performing single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq), including 130 CITE-seq antibodies, on NK cells from the blood and decidua of third-trimester pregnancies. We validated our find..