Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
9.0
4.9
Journals
IJMS
Special Issues
Immune Regulation During Pregnancy
ijms-logo
Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for IJMS Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Immune Regulation During Pregnancy

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Immunology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 April 2026 | Viewed by 3136

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Sabrina Marie Scroggins

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Interests: T cell-dendritic cell interactions; maternal-fetal immune adaptations; hypertensive disorders; neuroinflammation; microchimerism and immune programming across the lifespan; single cell spatial and multiomics; next-generation immunotherapies; autoimmunity; pathogen responses

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Increasing evidence highlights the crucial role of inflammation in pregnancy, influencing maternal and fetal health through complex immune interactions and molecular pathways. Recent studies indicate that dysregulated inflammatory responses contribute to various pregnancy complications, including preeclampsia, preterm birth, and fetal growth restriction, with potential long-term effects on maternal and offspring health, such as cardiovascular, renal, and neurocognitive disorders. Advances in multiomic technologies, including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, have provided new insights into the mechanisms underlying these conditions. The maternal–fetal interface, a key site of immune crosstalk, is now being explored through single-cell and spatial technologies, uncovering dynamic interactions that shape pregnancy outcomes. Moreover, epigenetic modifications and microbiome alterations have emerged as critical regulators of fetal programming, linking maternal immune status to offspring disease susceptibility. This Special Issue will focus on the molecular mechanisms behind, as well as multiomic insights into, pregnancy-induced inflammation, welcoming studies that explore inflammatory pathways, immune regulation, and precision medicine approaches aimed at mitigating pregnancy-related complications.

Dr. Sabrina Marie Scroggins
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • maternal–fetal immunology
  • multiomics in pregnancy
  • in utero inflammation
  • therapeutics
  • placental biology
  • neurodevelopment
  • gestational disorders
  • epigenetics
  • microbiome

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

23 pages, 5905 KB  
Article
Sex Hormones-Mediated Modulation of Immune Checkpoints in Pregnancy and Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
by Michał Zych, Aleksander Roszczyk, Marzenna Zakrzewska, Radosław Zagożdżon, Leszek Pączek, Filip Andrzej Dąbrowski and Monika Joanna Kniotek
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(3), 1265; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27031265 - 27 Jan 2026
Viewed by 827
Abstract
Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is defined as the loss of two or more pregnancies before the 22nd gestational week and affects 10–15% of clinical pregnancies. Despite extensive diagnostics, over 50% of RPL cases remain unexplained, suggesting an important role for immunological mechanisms. Sex [...] Read more.
Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is defined as the loss of two or more pregnancies before the 22nd gestational week and affects 10–15% of clinical pregnancies. Despite extensive diagnostics, over 50% of RPL cases remain unexplained, suggesting an important role for immunological mechanisms. Sex hormones (SH) are key regulators of immune responses during pregnancy; however, their influence on immune checkpoint proteins (ICPs) is poorly understood. This study evaluated the effects of progesterone, β-estradiol, and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) on ICP expression on immune cells, including Treg, NK, NKT, TC, Th, and T cells, collected from pregnant women and patients with unexplained RPL (uRPL). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 20 pregnant women and 20 uRPL patients were cultured for 48 h with SH. The expression of the first generation of ICPs—PD-1 and TIM-3—and the second—LAG-3, TIGIT, and VISTA—on T, NK, and NKT cells was analyzed by the flow cytometry method. In pregnant women, SH exerted modest effects, with DHT increasing VISTA and LAG-3 expression, while progesterone and estradiol mainly upregulated LAG-3 and TIM-3 on cytotoxic cells. In contrast, uRPL immune cells showed pronounced SH sensitivity, characterized by increased TIM-3 and VISTA expression and reduced TIGIT expression, particularly after DHT stimulation. In conclusion, SH modulates ICP expression in a cell-specific manner, with stronger effects observed in uRPL patients’ lymphocytes. These findings highlight a potential role for hormonal and ICP-targeted strategies in RPL management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Immune Regulation During Pregnancy)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

23 pages, 6694 KB  
Article
TLR9 Inhibition Shortly After Mating Increases Fetal Resorption and Alters B- and T-Cell Costimulatory Phenotypes in an Abortion-Prone Mouse Model
by Daria Lorek, Anna Ewa Kedzierska, Anna Slawek, Paulina Kubik and Anna Chelmonska-Soyta
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(2), 848; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27020848 - 14 Jan 2026
Viewed by 496
Abstract
Maternal immune tolerance and controlled inflammatory responses are essential for fetal development and successful pregnancy. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) and B cells with regulatory properties (Bregs) maintain this balance by limiting excessive immune activation through the secretion of anti-inflammatory and tolerogenic cytokines, such [...] Read more.
Maternal immune tolerance and controlled inflammatory responses are essential for fetal development and successful pregnancy. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) and B cells with regulatory properties (Bregs) maintain this balance by limiting excessive immune activation through the secretion of anti-inflammatory and tolerogenic cytokines, such as IL-10, TGF-β, and IL-35. Moreover, alterations in the costimulatory potential of antigen-presenting cells (APCs), including B cells, modulate the activation and differentiation of T cells. Toll-like receptors (TLRs), particularly TLR9, influence B-cell antigen presentation and cytokine production, thereby affecting the balance between pro-inflammatory and tolerogenic responses at the maternal–fetal interface. TLR9 overexpression has been observed in several pregnancy-related disorders in both humans and murine models. In this study, we examine whether blocking TLR9 shortly after mating could improve pregnancy outcomes and modulate the regulatory and antigen-presenting functions of B cells, as well as their interactions with T cells. Using an abortion-prone murine model (CBA/J × DBA/2J), we show that intraperitoneal administration of a TLR9 antagonist (ODN 2088) shortly after mating increases embryo resorption in CBA/J females compared to controls without affecting implantation. Flow cytometry analysis further reveals that mice receiving the TLR9 antagonist are characterized by downregulation of CD80 and upregulation of CD86 on B cells, accompanied by reduced expression of CD40L and CD28 on T cells, as well as a lower percentage of Tregs and activated T cells. In conclusion, blocking TLR9 signaling shortly after mating does not improve pregnancy outcomes; conversely, it exacerbates pregnancy loss in the CBA/J × DBA/2J abortion-prone model, while altering the costimulatory phenotype of B and T cells and impairing Treg development during pregnancy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Immune Regulation During Pregnancy)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

18 pages, 1304 KB  
Review
Immune Cells in Preeclampsia
by Nathan Campbell, Marcus Robbins, Hellen Nembaware, Evangeline Deer, Denise Cornelius and Babbette LaMarca
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(1), 74; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27010074 - 21 Dec 2025
Viewed by 1178
Abstract
Preeclampsia (PE), new-onset hypertension during pregnancy, is associated with chronic inflammation both in the placenta and systemically. PE is characterized by placental ischemia, which then results in the production and release of anti-angiogenic factors and inflammatory mediators. Inflammation in PE leads to placental, [...] Read more.
Preeclampsia (PE), new-onset hypertension during pregnancy, is associated with chronic inflammation both in the placenta and systemically. PE is characterized by placental ischemia, which then results in the production and release of anti-angiogenic factors and inflammatory mediators. Inflammation in PE leads to placental, renal, and vascular damage, which contribute to the phenotype of hypertension and organ dysfunction during pregnancy. T cells, B cells, Natural Killer cells, and macrophages have all been shown to play a role in the inflammation present in the disease. T helper cells contribute to the chronic inflammation in PE. They also activate B cells, which produce agonistic autoantibodies against the angiotensin II type 1 receptor. Natural Killer cells are activated in PE and shift away from decidual Natural killer cells, which produce angiogenic factors, and toward cytotoxic Natural Killer cells, which contribute to tissue damage. Macrophages are polarized towards proinflammatory subtypes and contribute to tissue damage and inflammatory signaling in PE patients. As the immune system plays a role in the pathophysiology of the disease, it may be a potential target for therapeutic intervention to improve maternal and fetal outcomes during and following a PE pregnancy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Immune Regulation During Pregnancy)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-3
Back to TopTop