Manganese Porphyrin-Based Treatment Blocks Placental Stress Caused by Maternal Hypothyroidism and Improves Placental Morphogenesis and Fetal Development in a Rat Experimental Model

Macrophages are myeloid immune cells present in every tissue and specialized in phagocytosis, innate, and adaptive immunity. Macrophages contribute to both homeostasis maintenance and disease, and play an early role in implantation and development, both in the embryo and within the placenta. Macrophages of both maternal and fetal origin, decidual macrophages and Hofbauer cells respectively, contribute to placental functions and defence during gestation and parturition. In this chapter, we discuss the ontogeny of these abundant immune cells in the placenta as well as the evidence for tissue-specific specializations, phenotype and functions in normal pregnancy and in complications.