Uterine macrophages: Essential roles for a successful human pregnancy

Abstract Uterine macrophages (decidual and myometrial) have a unique phenotype and contribute to the establishment and maintenance of a successful pregnancy. In this chapter, we discuss the origin of uterine macrophages, the signals involved in their phenotypic programing, and their function in the decidua and myometrium throughout pregnancy, focusing on studies from normal human pregnancies.