How placental vesicles influence the mother's immune system during pregnancy

Placental extracellular vesicles as regulators of maternal adaptive immunity

['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · NIH-10652444

This study is looking at how tiny particles from the placenta help the mother's immune system accept the baby during pregnancy, which could lead to better understanding and care for moms and their little ones.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorUNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH (nih funded)
Locations1 site (PITTSBURGH, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-10652444 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

This research investigates how extracellular vesicles released from the placenta communicate with the mother's immune system to prevent rejection of the fetus. The study aims to understand the regulatory signals these vesicles send to maternal immune cells, which is crucial for maintaining a healthy pregnancy. By examining these interactions in vivo, the research seeks to uncover the mechanisms that allow the semi-allogeneic fetus to coexist with the mother's immune system without being attacked. This could lead to new insights into maternal-fetal health and immune responses during pregnancy.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are pregnant individuals, particularly those using donor oocytes or undergoing surrogate pregnancies.

Not a fit: Patients who are not pregnant or those with no history of immune-related pregnancy complications may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and management of pregnancy complications related to immune responses.

How similar studies have performed: While the concept of extracellular vesicles in immune regulation is gaining traction, this specific investigation into placental vesicles is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.

Where this research is happening

PITTSBURGH, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.