Control of the inflammatory response during pregnancy: potential role of VIP as a regulatory peptide

RAMHORST R; CALO G; PAPARINI D; VOTA D; HAUK V; GALLINO L; MERECH F; GRASSO E; PEREZ LEIROS C

ANNALS OF THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.

BLACKWELL PUBLISHING

Lugar: New York; Año: 2019 vol. 1437 p. 15 - 21

0077-8923

A network of cell-cell communications through contact and soluble factors supports the maternal-placental interaction and provides a suitable environment for fetal growth. Trophoblast cells take centre stage at these loops: they interact with maternal leukocytes to sustain the varying demands of gestation and synthesize hormones, cytokines among other factors that contribute to the maintenance of immune homeostasis. Here we revised evidence on the vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and its potential as a regulatory neuropeptide in pregnancy. VIP is synthesized by trophoblast cells. It regulates trophoblast cell function and their interaction with the major immune cell populations present in the pregnant uterus. VIP favours an anti-inflammatory microenvironment by modulating the functional profile of monocytes, macrophages and regulatory T cells. Trophoblast VIP inhibits neutrophil extracellular trap formation and accelerates neutrophil apoptosis enabling their silent clearance by phagocytic cells. The effects described for VIP on the trophoblast-immune interaction are consistent with its regulatory role throughout pregnancy for immune homeostasis maintenance. These observations might provide new clues for pharmacological targeting in pregnancy complications associated with exacerbated inflammation.