Analysis of tissue remodeling mechanisms by circulating blood cells during human reproduction

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Although it has been widely accepted that adequate endometrial differentiation for embryo implantation is induced by ovarian sex steroid hormones, the precise molecular mechanism(s) concerning human embryo attachment to endometrial epithelium remains unclear. Accordingly, implantation failure in patients treated with in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer has been increasingly focused on in the field of assisted reproductive technology. On the other hand, during the past several decades the mechanisms for establishing maternal immune tolerance against embryo have been investigated in reproductive immunology. Recently, accumulating evidence suggests that activated immune cells actively contribute to establishment of pregnancy. In accordance with it, we found that peripheral blood immune cells positively affect function and differentiation of maternal endometrium and corpus luteum of pregnancy to facilitate embryo implantation during early pregnancy. In addition, platelets were shown to regulate vascular remodeling process in corpus luteum and placental formation. Based on these findings, we have successfully developed a new therapy for patients with implantation failure using autologous peripheral blood immune cells.