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- Title
Fetal microchimerism and implications for maternal health.
- Authors
Fjeldstad, Heidi ES; Johnsen, Guro M; Staff, Anne Cathrine
- Abstract
This review paper outlines the definition, pathophysiology, and potential maternal health consequences of cellular fetal microchimerism, the maternal acquisition of intact cells of fetal origin during pregnancy. Increased rates and amounts of cellular fetal microchimerism are associated with several placental syndromes, including preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction. The discovery of cellular fetal microchimerism and methods of detection are briefly outlined, and we present the mechanisms hypothesized to govern pregnancy-related and long-term maternal health effects of cellular fetal microchimerism. Specifically, we discuss the potential implications of cellular fetal microchimerism in wound healing, autoimmunity, cancer, and possibly cardiovascular disease. Cellular fetal microchimerism represents a novel area of research on maternal and transgenerational health and disease, providing exciting opportunities for developing new disease biomarkers and precision medicine with targeted prophylaxis against long-term maternal disease.
- Subjects
BIOMARKERS; MATERNAL health services; PLACENTA; PREECLAMPSIA; PREGNANCY complications; CHIMERISM; FETUS
- Publication
Obstetric Medicine (1753-495X), 2020, Vol 13, Issue 3, p112
- ISSN
1753-495X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1177/1753495X19884484