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Adrenomedullin and endocrine control of immune cells during pregnancy

Cellular & Molecular Immunology volume 11, pages 456–459 (2014)Cite this article

Abstract

The immunology of pregnancy is complex and incompletely understood. Aberrant immune activity in the decidua and in the placenta is believed to play a role in diseases of pregnancy, such as infertility, miscarriage, fetal growth restriction and preeclampsia. Here, we briefly review the endocrine control of uterine natural killer cell populations and their functions by the peptide hormone adrenomedullin. Studies in genetic animal models have revealed the critical importance of adrenomedullin dosage at the maternal–fetal interface, with cells from both the maternal and fetal compartments contributing to essential aspects underlying appropriate uterine receptivity, implantation and vascular remodeling of spiral arteries. These basic insights into the crosstalk between the endocrine and immune systems within the maternal–fetal interface may ultimately translate to a better understanding of the functions and consequences of dysregulated adrenomedullin levels in clinically complicated pregnancies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Cell Biology & Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Brooke C Matson & Kathleen M Caron

  2. Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Kathleen M Caron

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  1. Brooke C Matson
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  2. Kathleen M Caron
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Correspondence to Kathleen M Caron.

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Matson, B., Caron, K. Adrenomedullin and endocrine control of immune cells during pregnancy. Cell Mol Immunol 11, 456–459 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/cmi.2014.71

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