CD4+ T cell heterogeneity and clonal expansion depend on gestational age and is altered in preeclampsia by single cell RNA sequence. Homo sapiens

The adequate balance between proinflammatory CD4+ T cells subsets and regulatory T cells (Tregs) in feto-maternal interface are important for maintaining healthy pregnancy. However, diversity of CD4+ T cells and Tregs in feto-maternal interface have not been fully understood. We utilized single-cell RNA sequences and T cell receptor analysis to study human CD4+ T cell at feto-maternal interface from healthy early gestation, healthy late gestation and preeclampsia. We identified 13 decidual CD4+ T cell subsets with unique phenotypes. Among them, one effector subset, one memory subset and FOXP3+Tregs showed distinctive change in gene expression pattern in accordance with gestational age and preeclampsia. Clonally expanded FOXP3+Tregs showed increased signatures of Treg exhaustion in preeclampsia.The Data Access Committee of the Database Center for Life Science (DBCLS) approved that this personal data was made published according to the NBDC Guidelines for Human Data Sharing (https://humandbs.dbcls.jp/en/guidelines/data-sharing-guidelines) as the NBDC Research ID hum0443 and the application ID J-DS001098-001.