DENV-2 infection. Notably, uterine natural killer (uNK) cells are the critical pathological determinants of vascular injury in the uterus. Mechanistically, uNK cells may influence monocytes/macrophages (MonMacro) through SPP1-CD44 signaling to drive neutrophil infiltration, leading to uterine damage and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Successful depletion of NK cells reduces vascular damage and improves pregnancy outcomes. These findings provide critical mechanistic insights into DENV-2-induced uterine pathological lesions, fundamentally advancing our understanding of mosquito-borne virus-associated gestational diseases. The identified molecular cascades not only reveal the etiological landscape of pregnancy complications but also establish therapeutic measures for intervention strategies in mosquito-borne viral disorders.
Xue et al. (Wed,) studied this question.