The influence of the oral microbiota in full-term pregnant women on immune regulation during pregnancy

Abstract

Background: This study aims to conduct a preliminary exploration of the correlation between the oral microbiota of full-term pregnant women and both local placental immunity and the systemic immune system of the mother.

Methods: A total of 26 pregnant women participated in this study, with samples collected from oral swabs, placental tissue, and peripheral venous blood. High-throughput sequencing was used to examine the oral microbial community. Flow cytometry was employed to assess immune cells in placental tissue and peripheral venous blood. ELISA and Luminex liquid bead chip technology were utilized to detect cytokines in both placental tissue and peripheral venous blood.

Results: In placental tissue, The oral microbial community is primarily negatively correlated with placental CD3+CD4+CD8+T cells and positively correlated with placental IL-5. In the peripheral blood, The oral microbial community is primarily positively correlated with maternal systemic immune parameters, including CD3+CD4+ T cells and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio, as well as positively correlated with peripheral IL-18.

Conclusions: The oral microbiota of full-term pregnant women participates in the regulatory function of the maternal immune system. Meanwhile, the oral microbial community may also be an important factor mediating local immune regulation in the placenta.

Keywords: Cytokine; Immune cell; Oral microbiota; Placental immunity; Systemic immunity.