Maternal molecular features and gene profiling of monocytes during first trimester pregnancy

We examined the molecular characteristics of monocytes of pregnant and non-pregnant women to investigate the molecular effects that are associated with immunoregulation at the maternal-fetal interface. We analyzed molecular features and target genes in monocytes of pregnant women using flow cytometry, real-time PCR and oligonucleotide microarray technology. CD14(high) monocytes and several immune gene members including CD200, CD200R, IDO, IFI27, IL-10 and G0S2 were found to be differentially expressed in monocytes throughout pregnancy. In addition, transcripts within components of the signaling cascade of immune cells (HLA-DRB4, HBEGF, IL-8, CD3D, CCL5), and of several transcription factors (SOCS1, CXCL10, ID1, ID2) were altered in the monocytes of pregnant women. Further studies will be needed to elucidate the biological significance of our observation.