Disease Biophysics Group, Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering; Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences; Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Academic Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1105, The Netherlands.
Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2020 Jul;245(13):1163-1174. doi: 10.1177/1535370220938741. Epub 2020 Jul 8.
Extracellular matrix in the womb regulates the initiation, progression, and completion of a healthy pregnancy. The composition and physical properties of extracellular matrix in the uterus and at the maternal-fetal interface are remodeled at each gestational stage, while maladaptive matrix remodeling results in obstetric disease. As models of uterine and placental tissues, including micro-and milli-scale versions of these organs on chips, are developed to overcome the inherent limitations of studying human development , we can isolate the influence of cellular and extracellular components in healthy and pathological pregnancies. By understanding and recreating key aspects of the extracellular microenvironment at the maternal-fetal interface, we can engineer microphysiological systems to improve assisted reproduction, obstetric disease treatment, and prenatal drug safety.
子宫中的细胞外基质调节着健康妊娠的启动、进展和完成。子宫和母体-胎儿界面的细胞外基质的组成和物理性质在每个妊娠阶段都在重塑，而适应性不良的基质重塑会导致产科疾病。随着包括微芯片和毫芯片器官在内的子宫和胎盘组织模型的发展，以克服研究人类发育所固有的局限性，我们可以分离健康和病理性妊娠中细胞和细胞外成分的影响。通过了解和再现母体-胎儿界面细胞外微环境的关键方面，我们可以设计微生理系统来改善辅助生殖、产科疾病治疗和产前药物安全性。
