Gut microbiota promotes immune tolerance at the maternal-fetal interface.

TitleGut microbiota promotes immune tolerance at the maternal-fetal interface.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2026
AuthorsBrown JA, Amir M, Yu S, Wong DSH, Gu J, Balaji U, Parkhurst CN, Hong S, Hart LR, Carrow HC, Bah MA, Ananthanarayanan A, Sanidad KZ, Lyu M, Siddikova A, Santos MLima Silva, Serganova I, Diehl GE, Anrather J, Inohara N, Sonnenberg GF, Pascual V, Zeng MY
JournalCell
Volume189
Issue1
Pagination196-214.e24
Date Published2026 Jan 08
ISSN1097-4172
KeywordsAbortion, Habitual, Animals, Female, Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Humans, Immune Tolerance, Interferon-gamma, Interleukin-17, Maternal-Fetal Exchange, Mice, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells, Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3, Placenta, Pregnancy, T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory, Tryptophan
Abstract

Immune tolerance at the maternal-fetal interface (MFI) is required for fetal development. Excessive maternal interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin-17 (IL-17) are linked to pregnancy complications, but the regulation of maternal IFN-γ and IL-17 at the MFI is poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate a gut-placenta immune axis in pregnant mice in which the absence or perturbation of gut microbiota dysregulates maternal IFN-γ and IL-17 responses at the MFI, resulting in fetal resorption. Microbiota-dependent tryptophan derivatives suppress IFN-γ+ and IL-17+ T cells at the MFI by priming myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and gut-derived RORγt+ regulatory T cells (Tregs), respectively. The tryptophan derivative indole-3-carbinol, or tryptophan-metabolizing Lactobacillus murinus, rebalances the T cell response at the MFI and reduces fetal resorption in germ-free mice. Furthermore, MDSCs, RORγt+ Tregs, and microbiota-dependent tryptophan derivatives are dysregulated at the MFI in human recurrent miscarriage cases. Together, our findings identify microbiota-dependent immune tolerance mechanisms that promote fetal development.

DOI10.1016/j.cell.2025.11.022
Alternate JournalCell
PubMed ID41412123
PubMed Central IDPMC12904261
Grant ListTL1 TR002386 / TR / NCATS NIH HHS / United States
K01 DK114376 / DK / NIDDK NIH HHS / United States
K08 MH130773 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R01 HL169989 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
R01 AI123368 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
R50 CA221810 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
KL2 TR002385 / TR / NCATS NIH HHS / United States
R21 CA270998 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
R01 CA249294 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
T32 DK116970 / DK / NIDDK NIH HHS / United States
K99 CA290052 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
P30 CA008748 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
F32 HD112151 / HD / NICHD NIH HHS / United States
R01 HD110118 / HD / NICHD NIH HHS / United States
R01 AI125264 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States