"Unveiling the Placental Microcosm: Single-Cell Atlas of Term Labor"

Researchers supported by the NIH have created a single-cell atlas of the placenta during term labor, offering insight into the communication between maternal and fetal cells during childbirth. The atlas, based on samples from 42 term pregnancies, reveals changes in gene expression patterns among different cell types and identifies cells most affected by labor in the chorioamniotic membranes. The study also suggests that placental biomarkers present in maternal blood may be used to identify pregnancies at risk for preterm birth, although further validation is needed.