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We All Are Multitudes: the Microchimerism, Human Health and Evolution
- Abstract
- Microchimerism (MC) is the harboring of a small number of cells between two distinct individuals. This transfer of cells is well known to occur between mothers and offspring during gestation, though other avenues of transfer may be possible. The current understanding of MC is puzzling and little is known about the role microchimeric cells play in host physiology.
Why are the effects of MC paradoxical and what are the mechanisms responsible for maintaining microchimeric cells over an organism’s lifetime? Evolutionary biology and maternal-fetal conflict theory can provide a framework to understand the persistence of microchimeric cells, and how this may lead to disease vulnerability.
We hypothesize MC is much more common than previously reported and microchimeric cells play an adaptive role in host physiology, providing benefits for both mothers and offspring through transfers of stem and other cell types, and providing key immune system components and signals. However, in certain host tissues the maternal-fetal genetic interests may not align, potentially leading to disease vulnerability.
We aim to understand the role MC plays in health and disease, and understand the potential for and effects of subsequent generational transfers of microchimeric cells. We will use cutting edge technology to characterize MC cell distribution and trafficking between hosts and the effects of MC-host immune system interactions in various host tissues by creating a mouse Microchiome Atlas (Project 1), phenotyping human maternal MC (mMC) (Project 2), phenotyping human fetal MC (fMC) (Project 3), phenotyping microchimeric cells proximal and distal in terms of distance from the maternal-fetal interface as well as in various other organs (Project 4), and interrogating the context of MC and autoimmune disease in animal models (Project 5).
Our research will determine how microchimeric cells interact with the host system to initiate and maintain tolerance of MC during pregnancy, the postpartum period for mothers and early development in offspring, and uncover if there is a breakdown in immune tolerance during disease states, and what causes it.
- Keywords
- Evolution
- Feto-maternaler Zelltransfer
- Immuntoleranz
- Mikrochimärismus
- Mutter-Fötus Konflikttheorie
- Project Leader:
- Kroneis Thomas
- Duration:
- 01.12.2021-30.08.2026
- Type of Research
- basic research
- Further information: https://www.microchimerism.info/
- Staff
- Kroneis, Thomas, Project Leader
- Sallinger, Katja, Co-worker
- Schuch, Katharina, Co-worker
- Schönberger, Julia Maria, Co-worker
- Slaats, Emiel, Co-worker
- Wernitznig, Stefan, Co-worker
- Bramreiter, Bernadette Luise, Co-worker
- MUG Research Units
- Department of Blood Group Serology and Transfusion Medicine
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Pathology
- Division of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology
- Division of Obstetrics
- Project partners
- Blue Marble Space, Institute of Science, United States (USA)
- Leiden University Medical Center, Netherlands
- University of California, Santa Barbara, United States (USA)
-
, Germany
Contact person: Prof. Frank Schildberg;
- Project results published
- > Maternal microchimeric cell trafficking and its bi... Semin Immunopathol. 2025; 47(1): 8
- > The Microchimerism Literature Atlas.... Bioinform Biol Insights. 2025; 19: 11779322251324104
- > Image-based SNP detection for the identification o... J REPROD IMMUNOL. 2025; 167: 15-15.-European Society for Reproductive Immunology; OCT 9-11, 2024; Leiden, THE NETHERLANDS.
- > Characterization of amniotic fluid derived stem ce... 34th Annual Conference of the German Society for Cytometry; SEPT 10-13, 2024; Berlin, GERMANY. 2024.
- > Microchimeric cells: Trans-oral route to and prese... Gottfried Schatz Research Center Seminar; JAN 12, 2024; Graz, AUSTRIA. 2024.
- > Foetal Microchimerism Correlates With Foetal-Mater... HLA. 2024; 104(4):e15717
- > Sperm intrusion into the implantation-stage blasto... Evol Med Public Health. 2024; 12(1): 1-6.
- > Microchimerism Literature Atlas... Abstract Booklet. 2023; -33rd Annual Conference of the German Society for Cytometry; SEP 19-21, 2023; Berlin.
- > On the Analysis of Microchimerism... GQ2023 Proceedings. 2023; 22-22.-10th Gene Quantification Event qPCR dPCR & NGS 2023; MAR 20-24, 2023; Freising, GERMANY.
- > Der Mehrgenerationen-Mensch... Placenta Symposium Graz; MAR 3, 2023; Graz, AUSTRIA. 2023.
- > Microchimeric cells: Trans-oral route to and prese... BASICS TO WORK WITH EXTRACELLULAR VESICLES; SEPT 05-07, 2023; Tartu, ESTONIA. 2023.
- > We All Are Multitudes: Microchimerism, Evolution a... J REPROD IMMUNOL. 2023; 159: 10-10.
- > Characterizing cells isolated from amniotic fluid ... DIMENSIONS OF CYTOMETRY 33rd DGfZ Annual Conference; SEPT 19-21, 2023; Berlin, GERMANY. 2023.
- > Image-based SNP detection for discriminating haplo... Immunology meeting Leiden; NOV 21, 2023; Leiden, the Netherlands. 2023.
- > Towards the spatial detection of microchimeric cel... ESRI Seminars; MAR 27, 2023; Hamburg, Germany;. 2023.
- > Sperm cells attacking implantation-stage blastocys... ISEMPH 2023; AUG 14-17, 2023; Irvine, California, USA. 2023.
- > An evolutionary perspective on microchimerism and ... International Society for Evolution, Medicine and Public Health - 7th Annual Meeting; JUL 5-8, 2022; Lisbon, PORTUGAL. 2022.
- > Rätsel Mikrochimärismus – wenn wir über unsere Gre... Österr. Hebammenzeitung. 2022; (3): 8-14.
- > Microchimerism or How Some of Us Manage to Live Ac... Guest Lecture LBI for Lung Vascular Research; NOV 8, 2022; Graz, AUSTRIA. 2022.
- > On the Phenomenon of Microchimerism... GSRC Seminar Series; OCT 28, 2022; Graz, AUSTRIA. 2022.
- > Challenges in the analysis of rare cells – prepari... International Society of Evolution, Medicine and Public Health - 7th Annual Meeting; JUL 5-8, 2022; Lisbon, PORTUGAL. 2022.