Uterine Spiral Artery Remodeling: The Role of Uterine Natural Killer Cells and Extravillous Trophoblasts in Normal and High-Risk Human Pregnancies

Abstract

The process of uterine spiral artery remodeling in the first trimester of human pregnancy is an essential part of establishing adequate blood perfusion of the placenta that will allow optimal nutrient/waste exchange to meet fetal demands during later development. Key regulators of spiral artery remodeling are the uterine natural killer cells and the invasive extravillous trophoblasts. The functions of these cells as well as regulation of their activation states and temporal regulation of their localization within the uterine tissue are beginning to be known. In this review, we discuss the roles of these two cell lineages in arterial remodeling events, their interaction/influence on one another and the outcomes of altered temporal, and spatial regulation of these cells in pregnancy complications.

Keywords: Extravillous trophoblast; pregnancy complications; uterine natural killer cells; uterine spiral artery remodeling.