Fetal sex shapes placental inflammatory responses to extracellular mitochondrial DNA
Renée de Nazaré Oliveira da Silva, Nataliia Hula, Desirae Escalera, Leslie Lopez, Gabrielle Kelly, Isabelle K. Gorham, Megan Rowe, Contessa A. Ricci, Ciprian Gheorghe, Nicole Phillips, Styliani Goulopoulou
This study shows that extracellular mitochondrial DNA induces sex-specific placental inflammation in rats, mediated partially by TLR9, with lasting effects on antioxidant enzymes and stillbirth risk.
bioRxiv · Jul 11, 2026 · PreprintPhysiology