Research, so far limited to laboratory models of the disease, highlights a link between microbiota imbalances, reduced placental function, and the risk of preeclampsia, paving the way for new preventive approaches

Preeclampsia is a dangerous complication affecting 3% of pregnancies worldwide, causing hypertension and an abnormal presence of proteins in the urine of affected mothers. While the mechanisms underlying this condition remain largely unknown, a team of researchers at Humanitas has made a significant contribution to understanding the disease. They found that maternal microbiota imbalances, known as dysbiosis, can influence placental vascular function and the onset of preeclampsia.

The study, published in Nature Communications, was conducted using experimental disease models and led by Maria Rescigno—Vice Rector for Research at Humanitas University and Deputy Scientific Director for Basic Research at Humanitas Research Hospital—in collaboration with Silvia Giugliano, a researcher at Humanitas University in the Mucosal Immunology and Microbiota Laboratory directed by Rescigno herself.

The findings, which need to be validated through further clinical studies, open new avenues for understanding and potentially preventing the condition. They emphasize the importance of preserving microbiota integrity through healthy lifestyle choices and dietary habits.

“Understanding the factors that contribute to preeclampsia is crucial for improving maternal and infant health and for reducing the impact of this condition,” Rescigno and Giugliano explain. “We know that insufficient placental development, particularly in the blood vessels that nourish it, often underlies the pathology. However, what triggers these processes remains unclear.”

In this study, the researchers used a laboratory model to investigate the effects of dysbiosis—an imbalance in the composition of the intestinal microbiota—on pregnancy. They observed that induced dysbiosis disrupts glucose metabolism and the function of certain immune cells, specifically Natural Killer cells, which are critical for placental vascularization. These disruptions are associated with adverse outcomes, including pregnancy failure and changes in immune cell functions at the maternal-fetal interface, ultimately impacting the development of the placental vascular system.

“This study underscores the importance of advancing research into the impact of dysbiosis during pregnancy and highlights the need to maintain microbiota balance through healthy lifestyle choices and, when necessary, the use of supplements, particularly after antibiotic treatments,” the authors explain. “The next step will be to confirm these promising findings in clinical settings and to explore potential preventive strategies that target glucose metabolism modulation.”