7-TM receptor	seven-transmembrane receptor
ADAM10	a disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain-containing protein 10
ADAM17	a disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain-containing protein 17, also known as tumor necrosis factor alpha converting enzyme (TACE)
AGEs	advanced glycation end products
Akt	protein kinase B
AP2	adapter protein 2
BAD protein	B-cell lymphoma 2-associated agonist of cell death protein
C/EBPβ	CCAAT/enhancer binding protein β–transcription factor
CD	chemokine domain
CD106	cluster of differentiation 106, an adhesion molecule
c-MET	receptor tyrosine kinase
CTS	cathepsin S
CX3CL1	chemokine C-X3-C motif ligand 1, also known as fractalkine (FKN)
CX3CR1	ligand 1 (CX3CL1) receptor, also known as G-protein-coupled receptor 13 (GPR13), previously known as V28
DAG	diacylglycerol
DCs	dendritic cells
DSCs	decidual stromal cells
ECL1–ECL3	three extracellular loops within G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)
ECM	extracellular matrix
EGF	epidermal growth factor
EGR1	early growth response 1 protein
ELA	Elabela,
ELA-32	Elabela-32, a mature, 32 amino acid containing, endogenous high affinity apelin receptor agonist
ELISA	enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
eNOS	endothelial nitric oxide synthase
ER	endoplasmic reticulum
ERK1/2	extracellular signal-regulated kinase ½
FGR	fetal growth restriction (retardation)
FTDCs	first-trimester decidual cells
Gα, Gβ, Gγ	subunits of the heterotrimeric G proteins (G protein complex)
Gαi	activated Gα subunit of the G protein complex
GABA	gamma-aminobutyric acid
GABA-A receptor	gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor A
GABRP	gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor A π subunit
GEF	guanine nucleotide exchange factor
GDM	gestational diabetes mellitus
GDP	guanosine diphosphate
GH	growth hormone
GPCR	G-protein-coupled receptor
GRK	G-protein-coupled receptor kinase
GTP	guanosine triphosphate
hCG	human chorionic gonadotropin
HELLP syndrome	hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelets syndrome
HGF	hepatocyte growth factor, also known as scatter factor
HIF-1α	hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha
HLA-G	major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigen, class I, G, also known as human leukocyte antigen G
HUVECs	human umbilical vein endothelial cells
ICL1–ICL3	three intracellular loops within G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)
IDO1	enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1
IFN-γ	interferon gamma
IL-1β, IL-6, IL-11	interleukin-1β, -6, -11 respectively
ILT4 receptor	Ig-like transcript 4 inhibitory receptor
JAK	Janus kinase
LIF	leukemia inhibitory factor
Mφ	macrophage
M1	proinflammatory polarized macrophages
M2	anti-inflammatory polarized macrophages
MAP2K1	mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1 encoding gene
MAP2K2	mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 2 encoding gene
MAPK	mitogen-activated protein kinase
MC	mast cells
MDSCs	myeloid-derived suppressor cells
MEK1	mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1
MEK2	mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 2
MMP1, MMP-2, MMP12, MMP14, MMP15	matrix metalloproteinases-1, -2, -12, -14 and -15, respectively
MT-MMPs	membrane-type matrix metalloproteinases
mTOR	mammalian target of rapamycin
NF-κB	nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells
NK cell	natural killer cell
p38 MAPKs	p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases
p70S6 kinase	ribosomal protein S6 kinase beta-1, also known as S6K1
PBHSCs	peripheral blood-derived hematopoietic stem cells
PDK1	phosphoinositide dependent kinase 1
PE	preeclampsia
PI3K	phosphoinositide 3-kinase
PIP2	phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate
PIP3	phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate
PKC	protein kinase C
PLC	phospholipase C
PRL	prolactin
RhoA	Ras homolog gene family member A
RIC8	resistance to inhibitors of cholinesterase 8 homolog A
ROS	reactive oxygen species
RTKs	receptor tyrosine kinases
S6K1	ribosomal protein S6 kinase beta-1, also known as p70S6 kinase
sCX3CL1	soluble form of chemokine CX3CL1 (fractalkine)
SNARE	vesicle-associated v-soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor
SP	signal peptide
STAT	signal transducer and activator of transcription protein
STX13	protein syntaxin 13
TACE	tumor necrosis factor alpha-converting enzyme, also known as a disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain-containing protein 17 (ADAM17)
TLRs	toll-like receptors
TM1–TM7	seven hydrophobic α-helical transmembrane segments or domains within a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)
TNF-α	tumor necrosis factor alpha
VAMP3	vesicle-associated membrane protein 3
VCAM-1	vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 also known as vascular cell adhesion protein 1
VCTs	villous cytotrophoblasts
VEGF-A	vascular endothelial growth factor isoform A
VEGFR-2	vascular endothelial growth factor receptor type 2
V/EVTI	vascular/extravascular tissue index