Lipopolysaccharide induces cytokine production and decreases extravillous trophoblast invasion through a mitogen-activated protein kinase-mediated pathway: possible mechanisms of first trimester placental dysfunction

Defects in extravillous trophoblast (EVT) function could contribute to placental dysfunction resulting in adverse obstetrical outcomes. Adverse obstetrical outcomes have been highly correlated with intrauterine infection; however, the mechanisms linking infection to placental dysfunction remain unclear. We investigated the effects of inflammation on EVT cytokine production and invasion early in pregnancy and determined the cell signaling pathways mediating this response.