
Pregnancy-specific cell type found at maternal-fetal interface may regulate placental invasion
Live Science reports a Nature study that created a single-cell atlas of placental and uterine tissues from weeks 5–39 of pregnancy, analyzing about 1.2 million cells and identifying a previously undescribed pregnancy-only cell type, decidual stromal cell 4 (DSC4), at the maternal–fetal interface. DSC4 appears to help regulate fetal invasion into the uterus and arteries and carries cannabinoid receptors, a finding that could help explain cannabis-associated risks in pregnancy. By linking cell activity to genes tied to preeclampsia, preterm birth, and pregnancy loss, the atlas highlights which cells may drive complications and offers new targets for future research and therapies.













