Feto-maternal microchimerism: Memories from pregnancy
Blanca Cómitre-Mariano,
Magdalena Martínez-García,
Bárbara García-Gálvez,
María Paternina-Die,
Manuel Desco,
Susanna Carmona,
María Victoria Gómez-Gaviro
Affiliations
Blanca Cómitre-Mariano
Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón. (IiSGM), C/Doctor Esquerdo 46, 28007 Madrid, Spain
Magdalena Martínez-García
Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón. (IiSGM), C/Doctor Esquerdo 46, 28007 Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), C/ Monforte de Lemos 3-5, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Pabellón 11, planta baja, 28029 Madrid, Spain
Bárbara García-Gálvez
Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón. (IiSGM), C/Doctor Esquerdo 46, 28007 Madrid, Spain
María Paternina-Die
Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón. (IiSGM), C/Doctor Esquerdo 46, 28007 Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), C/ Monforte de Lemos 3-5, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Pabellón 11, planta baja, 28029 Madrid, Spain
Manuel Desco
Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón. (IiSGM), C/Doctor Esquerdo 46, 28007 Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), C/ Monforte de Lemos 3-5, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Pabellón 11, planta baja, 28029 Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Bioingeniería e Ingeniería Aeroespacial, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Avenida de la Universidad, 30, 28911 Leganés, Spain; Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III, CNIC, C/ Melchor Fernandez Almagro 3, 28029 Madrid, Spain; Corresponding author
Susanna Carmona
Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón. (IiSGM), C/Doctor Esquerdo 46, 28007 Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), C/ Monforte de Lemos 3-5, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Pabellón 11, planta baja, 28029 Madrid, Spain; Corresponding author
María Victoria Gómez-Gaviro
Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón. (IiSGM), C/Doctor Esquerdo 46, 28007 Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), C/ Monforte de Lemos 3-5, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Pabellón 11, planta baja, 28029 Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Bioingeniería e Ingeniería Aeroespacial, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Avenida de la Universidad, 30, 28911 Leganés, Spain; Corresponding author
Summary: There is a bidirectional transplacental cell trafficking between mother and fetus during pregnancy in placental mammals. The presence and persistence of fetal cells in maternal tissues are known as fetal microchimerism (FMc). FMc has high multilineage potential with a great ability to differentiate and functionally integrate into maternal tissue. FMc has been found in various maternal tissues in animal models and humans. Its permanence in the maternal body up to decades after delivery suggests it might play an essential role in maternal pathophysiology. Studying the presence, localization, and characteristics of FMc in maternal tissues is key to understanding its impact on the woman’s body. Here we comprehensively review the existence of FMc in different species and organs and tissues, aiming to better characterize their possible role in human health and disease. We also highlight several methodological considerations that would optimize the detection, quantification, and functional determination of FMc.
