Bird and co-authors publish study in Journal of Molecular Endocrinology

Ian Bird, PhD, professor in the Division of Reproductive Sciences, is senior author on a new paper published in the Journal of Molecular Endocrinology. Co-authors include: Rachel Dahn, PhD; Beth Lett, PhD; Luca Clemente, PhD; Jason Austin; Fuxian Yi; Derek Boeldt, PhD; Aleks Stanic-Kostic, MD, PhD; and Irene Ong, PhD.  

“Single-cell analysis of uterine artery endothelial cells reveals cytokine-induced emergence of specific immunomodulatory subtypes: implications for preeclampsia” shows for the first time that uterine artery endothelial cells can exist in multiple subtypes with distinct function, and that cytokines secreted by the placenta and decidua in preeclamptic subjects can drive them to loose vasodilatory ability and gain immunomodulatory properties. The significance of this study is it suggests endothelium is not so much the innocent victim of a disordered immune system in preeclampsia, but is in fact the root cause of the immune dysfunction seen at the time of presentation of clinical symptoms. 

Trainee authors Dahn, Lett, and Clemente were funded by T32 awards. Incredible work, all! See the whole article here.