Toxicant Disruption of Immune Defenses: Potential Implications for Fetal Membranes and Pregnancy
Open Access
- 29 May 2020
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Frontiers Media SA in Frontiers in Physiology
- Vol. 11, 565
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2020.00565
Abstract
In addition to providing a physical compartment for gestation, the fetal membranes (FM) are an active immunological barrier that provides defense against pathogenic microorganisms that ascend the gravid reproductive tract. Pathogenic infection of the gestational tissues (FM and placenta) is a leading known cause of preterm birth (PTB). Some environmental toxicants decrease the capacity for organisms to mount an immune defense against pathogens. For example, the immunosuppressive effects of the widespread environmental contaminant trichloroethylene (TCE) are documented for lung infection withStreptococcus zooepidemicus. Group BStreptococcus(GBS;Streptococcus agalactiae) is a bacterial pathogen that is frequently found in the female reproductive tract and can colonize the FM in pregnant women. Work in our laboratory has demonstrated that a bioactive TCE metabolite, S-(1, 2-dichlorovinyl)-L-cysteine (DCVC), potently inhibits innate immune responses to GBS in human FM in culture. Despite these provocative findings, little is known about how DCVC and other toxicants modify the risk for pathogenic infection of FM. Infection of the gestational tissues (FM and placenta) is a leading known cause of PTB, therefore toxicant compromise of FM ability to fight off infectious microorganisms could significantly contribute to PTB risk. This Perspective provides the current status of understanding of toxicant-pathogen interactions in FM, highlighting knowledge gaps, challenges, and opportunities for research that can advance protections for maternal and fetal health.Keywords
This publication has 127 references indexed in Scilit:
- Human Health Effects of Trichloroethylene: Key Findings and Scientific IssuesEnvironmental Health Perspectives, 2013
- Endocrinology of parturitionIndian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2013
- Adverse Birth Outcomes and Maternal Exposure to Trichloroethylene and Tetrachloroethylene through Soil Vapor Intrusion in New York StateEnvironmental Health Perspectives, 2012
- Extracellular Matrix Dynamics and Fetal Membrane RuptureReproductive Sciences, 2012
- Concentrations and speciation of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in human amniotic fluidScience of The Total Environment, 2012
- Macrophage phagocytosis: effects of environmental pollutants, alcohol, cigarette smoke, and other external factorsJournal of Leukocyte Biology, 2011
- Mycoplasma,Ureaplasma, and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes: A Fresh LookInfectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2010
- Mechanisms for how inhaled multiwalled carbon nanotubes suppress systemic immune function in miceNature Nanotechnology, 2009
- Epidemiology and causes of preterm birthThe Lancet, 2008
- A novel heterodimeric cysteine protease is required for interleukin-1βprocessing in monocytesNature, 1992