This project aims to study the role of macrophages in the female reproductive tract in different physio-pathological contexts, using adult cycling female mice and in vivo models of pregnancy and abortion, in order to understand their impact in endometrial functions.
We want to characterize the immune cell subsets that populate the murine endometrium and their phenotype. Our working hypothesis is that the functions of different uterine macrophages are influenced by estrogens and could have a key role in uterine functions, including embryonal sustainment and pregnancy outcome as well as pregnancy loss. Using single cell transcriptomics, we intend to evaluate macrophage transcriptional profile in intact/estrous cycling female mice, during pregnancy and after pharmacologically-induced pregnancy loss. This will allow us to better characterize the role, amount, state of activation of macrophages in the female reproductive tract in different physio-pathological conditions.
