Abstract
Fetal microchimerism, the presence of fetal cells in maternal tissues, has garnered interest for its potential role in maternal physiology. In this study, we aimed to explore the impact of fetal microchimeric cells on maternal lung health following term and preterm delivery, particularly in the context of infection-induced preterm birth and subsequent allergic challenges. We characterized the immune cells in maternal lungs using a transgenic mouse model (mT+ Ve, Td Tomato) and high dimensional mass cytometry (CyTOF) techniques. We evaluated their influence on lung function and inflammation. Our findings revealed distinct differences in the immune cell composition of maternal lungs between term and preterm deliveries. Mice delivered preterm significantly increased in fetal-specific cells, such as activated macrophages and Tbet + Ve memory B-cells, compared to term-delivered mice. Conversely, term deliveries showed elevated levels of CD4 cells. Furthermore, preterm-delivered dams demonstrated heightened airway hyperresponsiveness, pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, cellular infiltration, and lung mucous production compared to term-delivered dams. Co-culture experiments demonstrated that microchimeric cells from preterm births stimulated the production of inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α in lung epithelial cells. These findings shed light on the complex immune dynamics postpartum and their role in lung complications after preterm birth. Understanding these mechanisms could provide insights for targeted interventions to improve maternal lung health in at-risk populations.