Tissue-specific non-heritable influence drive uterine immune system variation (RNA-seq)

Human twin studies have revealed the combined contribution of heritable and non-heritable (environmental) factors in shaping peripheral blood immune system variability. However, the heterogeneity within tissue immune compartments and the contribution of tissue-specific external factors remain unexplored. The human uterus is a tissue under constant regeneration exposed to distinct environmental factors. To assess uterine immune system variation, we have performed a transcriptomic and epigenetic analysis of uterine and peripheral blood immune cells in monozygotic twins and longitudinal samples in relation to heritable versus non-heritable factors.