They began by creating a detailed catalogue of the cell types in the placenta (called a spatial transcriptomic map), which shows their locations of active gene expression in the niches in the placenta’s microarchitecture. Their approach of using pioneering technologies such as ‘spatial transcriptomics’ allows them and other pregnancy researchers to start to understand how sometimes (but not always) the immune cells of the placenta succeed at controlling viral growth, and in other rare occasions the virus gets the upper hand. “The main goal of our study published in the journal Med, was to investigate how these immune cells organize themselves in microniches of the placenta, an important first step to understanding the interactions occurring between a virus and the cells of the placenta.” Dr. Enrico Barrozo, a postdoctoral associate of obstetrics and gynecology in Dr. “Previously, it has not been well appreciated that the human placenta comprises a relatively more diverse variety of cell types, including immune cells,” said first author Dr. Image courtesy of the authors/ Med, 2023. The human placenta comprises a diverse variety of cell types, including immune cells that respond to viral infection. Answering this question, as well as understanding the response of the placenta to this and other viral infections during pregnancy, is crucial for the development of effective preventive and therapeutic strategies for both the mother and the baby. Until now, scientific evidence has been inconclusive regarding the ability of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID, to replicate in the human placenta.
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