title: Multi-lineage potential of fetal cells in maternal tissue: a legacy in reverse.
abstract: Fetal cells circulate in pregnant women and persist in blood and tissue for decades post-partum. The mother thus becomes chimeric. Factors that may influence such fetal cell microchimerism include histocompatibility, fetal or placental abnormalities, or a reproductive history that includes miscarriage or elective termination. Fetal cell microchimerism is associated with some maternal autoimmune diseases, such as systemic sclerosis. Moreover, a novel population of fetal cells, the pregnancy-associated progenitor cells (PAPCs), appears to differentiate in diseased or injured maternal tissue. The cellular origin of these cells is at present unknown but could be a hematopoietic stem cell, a mesenchymal stem cell, or a novel cell type. Pregnancy therefore results in the acquisition of cells with stem-cell-like properties that may influence maternal health post-partum. Rather than triggering disease, these cells may instead combat it.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Tenon Hospital and UPRES EA2396, Saint-Antoine School of Medicine, Pierre et Marie Curie (Paris VI) University, 75020 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Kiarash
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Khosrotehrani
authors.forename: Diana W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Bianchi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000502:physiology*; D046528:Chimerism / Q000196:embryology*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange / Q000502:physiology*; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology