journal article·2026-06Open access

Trained Memory of Uterine Macrophages Improves Subsequent Pregnancy Outcomes

Jing Wang, Ning Lu, Xin‐Xiu Lin, Xu‐Hui Fang, Yi‐Hui Li, Qing‐Peng Luo, Yu‐Ting Peng, Gil Mor, Ai‐Hua Liao

Advanced Science· Volume 13· Issue 31

Abstract

ABSTRACT A previously successful pregnancy promotes the fitness of subsequent pregnancies, of which the pregnancy‐induced memory is ascribed exclusively to adaptive lymphocytes. However, whether macrophages at maternal‐fetal interface acquire pregnancy‐specific immune memory remains unclear. Using human decidual samples and complementary mouse models, we identify human leukocyte immunoglobulin‐like receptor subfamily B3 + (LILRB3 + ) and murine paired immunoglobulin‐like receptor B + (PIR‐B + ) macrophages as a uterine memory subset, which expands progressively with gravidity and gestational age, and exhibits paternal specific immune memory. In both species, these cells exhibited hallmarks of pregnancy‐induced trained tolerance, including elevated IL‐10, TGF‐β, and CD206, together with reduced CD80/CD86 expression and suppression of pro‐inflammatory cytokines. Mechanistically, PIR‐B‐SHP signaling drives macrophage metabolic reprogramming to oxidative phosphorylation/fatty acid oxidation for the formation of memory. Moreover, adoptive transfer of PIR‐B + uterine macrophages into abortion‐prone mouse models significantly improves pregnancy outcomes, highlighting their therapeutic potential. Together, our findings uncover a previously unrecognized form of decidual macrophage trained memory in an antigen‐specific manner, which opens avenues for therapeutic strategies aimed at preventing or reducing recurrent pregnancy loss.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Reproductive System and Pregnancy · Immune responses and vaccinations · COVID-19 Impact on Reproduction

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Institute of Reproductive Health Center for Reproductive Medicine Tongji Medical College Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan P.R. China

C.S. Mott Center for Human Growth and Development Wayne State University School of Medicine Detroit Michigan USA

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China

References (48)

Show source-provided references
1. 10.1038/nri.2017.6410.1038/nri.2017.64 ↗
2. 10.1111/aji.1257810.1111/aji.12578 ↗
3. 10.1111/aji.1228910.1111/aji.12289 ↗
4. 10.1111/j.1600‐0897.2010.00836.x10.1111/j.1600‐0897.2010.00836.x ↗
5. 10.1111/aji.1209410.1111/aji.12094 ↗
6. 10.1111/j.1600‐0897.2006.00446.x10.1111/j.1600‐0897.2006.00446.x ↗
7. 10.1189/jlb.1A0815‐351R10.1189/jlb.1A0815‐351R ↗
8. 10.1111/j.1600‐0897.2004.00156.x10.1111/j.1600‐0897.2004.00156.x ↗
9. 10.1111/jcmm.1619110.1111/jcmm.16191 ↗
10. 10.3389/fimmu.2021.69318910.3389/fimmu.2021.693189 ↗
11. 10.1016/j.ajog.2019.02.03710.1016/j.ajog.2019.02.037 ↗
12. 10.1053/plac.2002.092210.1053/plac.2002.0922 ↗
13. 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2005.09.05510.1016/j.fertnstert.2005.09.055 ↗
14. 10.1136/bmj.b225510.1136/bmj.b2255 ↗
15. 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.113810.1136/bmj.327.7424.1138 ↗
16. Pregnancy Outcomes and Infant Health Suffer when a Woman's First Two Children have Different Fathers
17. 10.1038/s41467-025-61572-w10.1038/s41467-025-61572-w ↗
18. 10.1038/nature1146210.1038/nature11462 ↗
19. 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.10778410.1016/j.celrep.2020.107784 ↗
20. 10.3389/fimmu.2021.68667610.3389/fimmu.2021.686676 ↗
21. 10.1016/j.chom.2011.04.00610.1016/j.chom.2011.04.006 ↗
22. 10.1126/science.aaf109810.1126/science.aaf1098 ↗
23. 10.1126/science.125108610.1126/science.1251086 ↗
24. mTOR‐ and HIF‐1α‐mediated Aerobic Glycolysis as Metabolic Basis for Trained Immunity (vol 346, aaa1503, 2014)
25. 10.3390/biomedicines911159610.3390/biomedicines9111596 ↗
26. 10.1016/j.jconrel.2021.12.02510.1016/j.jconrel.2021.12.025 ↗
27. 10.1016/j.immuni.2024.08.01810.1016/j.immuni.2024.08.018 ↗
28. 10.1016/j.cell.2018.09.04210.1016/j.cell.2018.09.042 ↗
29. 10.1016/j.immuni.2018.04.03310.1016/j.immuni.2018.04.033 ↗
30. 10.1126/science.aax404010.1126/science.aax4040 ↗
31. 10.1016/j.jri.2022.10376410.1016/j.jri.2022.103764 ↗
32. 10.1016/j.immuni.2018.03.03010.1016/j.immuni.2018.03.030 ↗
33. 10.1080/14767058.2018.148979410.1080/14767058.2018.1489794 ↗
34. 10.1084/jem.187.8.135510.1084/jem.187.8.1355 ↗
35. 10.1007/s00005‐019‐00552‐710.1007/s00005‐019‐00552‐7 ↗
36. 10.7150/thno.11695110.7150/thno.116951 ↗
37. 10.1073/pnas.96.10.567410.1073/pnas.96.10.5674 ↗
38. 10.1016/j.immuni.2017.11.01810.1016/j.immuni.2017.11.018 ↗
39. 10.1016/j.placenta.2008.04.00710.1016/j.placenta.2008.04.007 ↗
40. 10.3390/jcm1003046010.3390/jcm10030460 ↗
41. 10.1056/NEJMoa01137910.1056/NEJMoa011379 ↗
42. 10.3389/fimmu.2021.64239210.3389/fimmu.2021.642392 ↗
43. 10.1152/physrev.00031.202110.1152/physrev.00031.2021 ↗
44. 10.7554/eLife.7469010.7554/eLife.74690 ↗
45. 10.1186/s13045‐023‐01478‐610.1186/s13045‐023‐01478‐6 ↗
46. 10.1016/j.it.2017.03.00110.1016/j.it.2017.03.001 ↗
47. 10.1016/j.bbrc.2009.02.06910.1016/j.bbrc.2009.02.069 ↗
48. 10.1038/cddis.2015.20710.1038/cddis.2015.207 ↗