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Patterns of trophoblast migration in deep uterine arteries in accreta placentation

Allen, Anna; Jones, Carolyn JP; Jauniaux, Eric; Hussein, Ahmed; Aplin, John D; (2025) Patterns of trophoblast migration in deep uterine arteries in accreta placentation. Placenta , 168 pp. 135-143. 10.1016/j.placenta.2025.06.014. (In press). Green open access

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Abstract

INTRODUCTION: During normal placentation, extravillous trophoblast (EVT) colonises and, in synergy with maternal leukocytes, transforms the walls of uterine spiral arteries in the decidua and inner myometrium. In placenta accreta spectrum (PAS), migration of extravillous trophoblasts (EVT) is abnormally deep, reaching larger upstream arteries in myometrium. As little is known about their interactions in accreta areas, scar tissue and deeper arteries were examined for colonisation and remodelling by trophoblast and maternal inflammatory cells. METHODS: Samples (n = 79) were fresh hysterectomy specimens taken immediately after surgery in 11 patients presenting with placenta previa accreta at birth, at term or near term. They were obtained from accreta areas, non-accreta areas and, in cases of associated dehiscence of the lower uterine segment, from the adjacent shell (uterine boundary membrane). Samples were stained using antibodies to EVT (cytokeratin) or inflammatory cells (CD45). Arterial profiles positioned within 5 mm of villous placenta at scar sites were included in the analysis (54 lumina). RESULTS: EVT colonisation of scar tissue was much more extensive than in adjacent myometrium (p < 0.001). Large arteries were remodelled (20.3 %), partially remodelled (22.2 %) or unremodelled (29.6 %). Unremodelled arteries were present in 10/11 specimens while 6/11 had one or more fully remodelled. Leucocytes/inflammatory cells were frequently associated with arteries undergoing remodelling. EVT also accumulated beneath the serosa but were not found to cross it. DISCUSSION: Some remodelling of deep arteries occurs in most samples from accreta areas, but persistence of unremodelled arteries in distal segments with abnormally high velocity intraplacental blood flow is probably the main mechanism leading to lacuna formation.

Type: Article
Title: Patterns of trophoblast migration in deep uterine arteries in accreta placentation
Location: Netherlands
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2025.06.014
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.placenta.2025.06.014
Language: English
Additional information: © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/bync-nd/4.0/).
Keywords: Science & Technology, Life Sciences & Biomedicine, Developmental Biology, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Reproductive Biology, Placenta accreta spectrum, Histopathology, Extravillous trophoblast, Artery remodelling, Inflammatory cells, PREVIA, CRETA, PATHOPHYSIOLOGY, DIAGNOSIS, DECIDUA
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > UCL EGA Institute for Womens Health
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > UCL EGA Institute for Womens Health > Reproductive Health
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10211549
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