Pregnant women represent a high-risk population for severe/critical COVID-19 and mortality. However, the maternal-fetal immune responses initiated by SARS-CoV-2 infection, and whether this virus is detectable in the placenta, are still under investigation. Here we show that SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy primarily induces unique inflammatory responses at the maternal-fetal interface, which are largely governed by maternal T cells and fetal stromal cells. SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy is also associated with humoral and cellular immune responses in the maternal blood, as well as with a mild cytokine response in the neonatal circulation (i.e., umbilical cord blood), without compromising the T-cell repertoire or initiating IgM responses. Importantly, SARS-CoV-2 is not detected in the placental tissues, nor is the sterility of the placenta compromised by maternal viral infection. This study provides insight into the maternal-fetal immune responses triggered by SARS-CoV-2 and emphasizes the rarity of placental infection. As pregnant women are considered vulnerable to SARSCoV-2 infection, it is important to investigate the actual risks involved. The authors show here that, while a T cell-dominant inflammatory response is observed at the maternal-foetal interface, the virus remains undetectable in the placenta but triggers specific immune responses in the neonatal (umbilical cord blood) circulation.
【저자키워드】 viral infection, immune evasion, Reproductive signs and symptoms, 【초록키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, viral infection, immune response, Mortality, Placenta, Umbilical cord, Cellular immune response, T cells, SARS-COV-2 infection, Infection, cytokine, virus, pregnant women, T cell, Cord blood, Pregnancy, Viral, cells, immune responses, Mild, placental, women, circulation, T-cell, Blood, Humoral and cellular immune responses, SARSCoV-2, high-risk population, Inflammatory response, Placental infection, cytokine response, Trigger, Neonatal, humoral, triggers, during pregnancy, stromal cells, maternal blood, IgM responses, tissues, sterility, SARSCoV-2 infection, umbilical cord blood, involved, detectable, provide, unique, induce, initiated, triggered, fetal, actual risk, undetectable, 【제목키워드】 immune response, infected with SARS-CoV-2,