Single-Cell Atlas Reveals New Insights into Pregnancy Complications

Researchers at UCSF map maternal-fetal interface, identify cell types linked to preeclampsia and other conditions

Apr. 9, 2026 at 12:54am by Ben Kaplan

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A bold, abstract painting featuring sweeping geometric shapes, concentric cellular structures, and precise biological spirals in a soft color palette, conceptually representing the complex cellular and molecular interactions of the maternal-fetal interface.A single-cell atlas of the maternal-fetal interface reveals new cellular insights into the biological processes that support healthy pregnancies and contribute to complications.San Francisco Today

Scientists at the University of California, San Francisco have generated a comprehensive single-cell atlas of the human maternal-fetal interface, the specialized organ that connects a pregnant woman to her developing baby. The atlas reveals new cell types, genetic links, and mechanisms behind pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia, preterm birth, and miscarriage.

Why it matters

The maternal-fetal interface is a critical but complex region that has remained incompletely understood. This detailed mapping of its cellular composition and gene regulation provides unprecedented insights into how healthy pregnancies develop and what may go wrong, opening new avenues for understanding and treating pregnancy complications.

The details

The researchers analyzed about 200,000 individual cells from the maternal-fetal interface across normal pregnancies, from early gestation to term. They used advanced techniques like single-nucleus transcriptomics, chromatin accessibility profiling, spatial transcriptomics, and multiplex protein imaging to identify different cell types, track their development, and link them to specific pregnancy complications.

  • The maternal-fetal interface forms about a week after fertilization and lasts until birth.
  • The researchers generated this comprehensive atlas by studying samples across normal pregnancies.

The players

Susan J. Fisher

Professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences at UCSF.

Jingjing Li

Associate professor in UCSF's Department of Neurology and the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research.

Cheng Wang

Postdoctoral fellow at UCSF.

University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)

The research institution where this work was conducted.

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What they’re saying

“By examining this tissue cell by cell across pregnancy, we can begin to understand both normal development and what may go wrong.”

— Susan J. Fisher, Professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences

“This work gives us a much clearer picture of this critical region than ever before.”

— Jingjing Li, Associate professor

“Population studies have linked cannabis use during pregnancy to poorer outcomes. This cell type may help explain the biological basis of that association.”

— Cheng Wang, Postdoctoral fellow

What’s next

Having established a detailed map of healthy pregnancies, the researchers plan to study complicated pregnancies to identify potential targets for treatment.

The takeaway

This comprehensive single-cell atlas of the maternal-fetal interface provides unprecedented insights into the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying both normal pregnancy development and various pregnancy complications. These findings open new avenues for understanding and potentially treating conditions like preeclampsia, preterm birth, and miscarriage.