title: Maternal microchimerism: lessons learned from murine models.
abstract: The presence of maternal cells in the organs of the offspring is referred to as maternal microchimerism (MMc). MMc is physiologically acquired during pregnancy and lactation and can persist until adulthood. The detection of MMc in a variety of human diseases has raised interest in the short- and long-term functional consequences for the offspring. Owing to limited availability and access to human tissue, mouse models have become an essential tool in elucidating the functional role of MMc. This review compiles the detection techniques and experimental settings used in murine MMc research. It aims to summarize the potential mechanisms of migration of MMc, pre- and postnatal tissue distribution, phenotype and concatenated function, as well as factors modulating its occurrence. In this context, we propose MMc to be a materno-fetal messenger with the capacity to critically shape the development of the offspring's immunity.
authors: Laboratory of Experimental Feto-Maternal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany. Electronic address: i.stelzer@uke.de.
authors: Ina Annelies
authors: IA
authors: Stelzer
authors: Laboratory of Experimental Feto-Maternal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany.
authors: Kristin
authors: K
authors: Thiele
authors: Laboratory of Experimental Feto-Maternal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany. Electronic address: e.solano@uke.de.
authors: Maria Emilia
authors: ME
authors: Solano
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D046528:Chimerism / Q000196:embryology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007112:Immunity, Maternally-Acquired; D056747:Immunomodulation; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D051379:Mice; D011247:Pregnancy
keywords: Fetal immune ontogeny; Feto-maternal immune cross-talk; In utero programming; Maternal microchimerism; Mouse pregnancy