Reactive oxygen species and the phagocytosis process of hemochorial trophoblast

RESUMO

The establishment of the hemochorial placenta requires the trophoblast to invade the endometrium and its vascular network to reach the abundant supply of maternal blood during embryo implantation. To facilitate the invasion steps and/or to provide the nutritional source for embryo development before the completion of the placenta, the trophoblast exhibits a temporally limited and very intense phagocytic activity. Despite the importance of this critical event during pregnancy, full understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved is still to be achieved. Recent findings of our laboratory show that mouse trophoblast cells are able to produce and release reactive oxygen species (ROS) to the surrounding medium, in a manner similar to activated inflammatory phagocytic cells. The aim of the present communications, is to discuss the results obtained by our group regarding the involvement of ROS in the trophoblast phagocytosis, with special attention to the underlying physiological mechanisms related to the embryo implantation.