In this study, we used conventional expression profiling to compare the DEGs contained in decidua parietalis of the PE and normal human. We further explored their involvement in cell-to-cell interactions using CellPhoneDB analysis. We found that most of differential genes exist in the interrelationship between decidual macrophages and other decidual immune cells. We further used single-cell sequencing and discovered that dM affect the functions of other immune cells in the decidua through exporting function. So, the abnormal exportation of dM due to abnormal expression of differential genes affects the role of immune cells interplaying with them, consequently impeding the original immune regulation, and ultimately causing the occurrence of PE.
Most previous studies on the pathogenesis of PE have been focused on placenta, including placental ischemia and placental dysfunction. However, decidualization is the foundation for placentation and growth. Abnormal decidualization of the endometrium can lead to embryo implantation failure or abnormal implantation, which in turn leads to the occurrence of PE [8, 9]. In this process, there are a series of immune regulatory mechanisms. Thereinto, both tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) are situated at the central link in the network of immune regulation [32, 33]. The TNF is a central polypeptide mediator of the cellular immune response, it participates in TNF signaling pathway, and can recognize and participate in the activation of NF-κB [34, 35]. In PE patients, the balance of NF-κB signaling pathway is disrupted, leading to abnormal apoptosis of placental trophoblast cells [36, 37]. In this research, we found that CXCL3 and ICAM1 participate in the TNF signaling pathway and NF-κB signaling pathway. In addition, these two genes are highly expressed in normal dM, but are significantly down-regulated in PE. At the same time, we also found that genes that are significantly up-regulated in the decidua parietalis of PE are not only not expressed in dM, but also not expressed in other normal decidual immune cells, including IGF1, CXCL12, NRP1, LRP6, PDGFD, and PDGFRB. These results indicate that the abnormal export function of dM affects the functions of immune cells that interact with them, thereby destroying the original immune regulation mechanism, and ultimately leading to the occurrence of PE.
Previous studies have demonstrated that CXCL3 and CXCL12 are chemokines, they can coordinate the migration, positioning and the interaction between immune cells [31, 38]. In addition, CXCL3 can inhibit the proliferation of T cells and increase the apoptosis of T cells, while IGF1 has the opposite effect [39, 40]. In detail, IGF1 can inhibit T cell apoptosis, and promote T cell autophagy [40]. CXCL12 activates PKA, CREB, Bcl2 and BclXl, thereby prolonging the survival time of CD4T lymphocytes. In addition, it promotes the accumulation of NK cells in the uterus by enhancing the adhesion of NK cells to decidual stromal cells [39, 41]. ICAM1 is a single-chain transmembrane glycoprotein that can promote the proliferation of naive CD4T cells and also plays a key role in the interaction between antigen presenting cells and T cells [42]. NRP1 can regulate the transfer of CD4T cells and allow the acceptance of allogeneic grafts, making NRP1 a new target for immunotherapy [43]. It is worth noting that the Wnt signaling pathway which LRP6 is involved in regulates the differentiation and development of various immune cells such as macrophages, T cells and B cells, and regulates the immune response process through various mechanisms [44–47]. Overall, the above-mentioned DEGs play an important role in the immune regulation. The abnormal expression of these DEGs can cause the disorders of the immune system and participate in the occurrence of PE.
Interestingly, we found that these DEGs have one thing in common: according to the ligand-receptor relationship network, these DEGs are all present in the export founction of dM. As the second largest type of leukocyte at the maternal-fetal interface, dM exerts anti-inflammatory and phagocytosis effects in the early pregnancy, and by regulating the local immune microenvironment of the decidua, remodels the decidual blood vessels, participates in embryo implantation and maintains pregnancy and other processes [22, 48]. In the decidua of PE patients, the increased expression of TGF-β3 activates miR-494 in decidual mesenchymal stem cells, thereby weakening the regulation of mesenchymal stem cells, thereby turning macrophages into M2 type, and finally leads to the immune imbalance of maternal-fetal interface [49]. Imbalanced ratio of M1/M2 macrophages is considered to be one of the causes of pregnancy-related diseases, including PE, fetal growth restriction (FGR) and preterm delivery [18, 50]. Our research found that dM affects the function of ILC3 cells, dNK-a cells, dNK-b cells, dNK-d cells, and CD4T cells through export in the decidua. Therefore, the abnormal export of dM affects the function of immune cells that interact with it, thereby destroying the original immune regulation mechanism.
Although dM is not the focus of most studies on the pathogenesis of PE, our research has found that DEGs that appear in the export of dM play a key role in the development of PE. To be precise, the activation of NRP1 can affect angiogenesis, and it activates the intracellular kinase ABL1 independently of the VEGF signaling pathway [51]. Whereas abnormal angiogenesis is an important factor leading to PE [52]. LRP6 regulates the autophagy mediated by Rab7, and then regulates the invasion and migration of trophoblasts through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway [44, 45]. Insufficient invasion of extravillous trophoblast can lead to impaired uterine spiral artery remodeling and subsequent PE [53]. IGF1 is one of the genes related to the insulin signaling pathway, and its up-regulation may cause polycystic ovary syndrome and endometrial cancer [54]. However, in PE, the impact of IGF up-regulation is unclear.
In summary, our research has found that the imbalance of immune regulation caused by abnormal dM function plays an important role in the pathogenesis of PE. These findings provide new insights for studying the pathogenesis of PE, and also give new ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of PE.
However, how do CXCL3, ICAM1, IGF1, CXCL12, NRP1 and LRP6 as ligands or receptors affect the export function of dM, which in turn affects the function of other decidual immune cells, thereby destroying the original immune regulation mechanism, and ultimately leading to the occurrence of PE, which needs to be further investigated.