['The association between maternal celiac disease (CD) and both reduced fertility and increased risk of adverse pregnancy-related events has been long documented. However, no evidences are available regarding the pathogenic mechanisms of this link. The aim of this study was to determine whether anti-tissue transglutaminase (anti-tTG) antibodies are involved in the damage of trophoblastic cells in vitro.', 'Human primary trophoblastic cells, isolated from term placenta, were exposed to anti-tTG immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies, both commercially available and separated from sera of three untreated celiac women. The ability of anti-tTG antibodies to bind to trophoblastic cells, invasiveness of placental cells through a layer of extracellular matrix, and the activity of cellular matrix metalloprotease (MMP) and cellular apoptosis were evaluated, as indicators of trophoblast damage, by TdT-mediated dUTP digoxigenin nick end labeling (TUNEL) and annexin V expression.', 'Anti-tTG IgG showed a specific dose- and time-dependent binding to human trophoblast. In addition, trophoblastic cells, after being exposed to anti-tTG IgG antibodies, both commercially available and separated from sera of celiac women, showed an impaired invasiveness, a decreased activity of cellular MMP, and a greater percentage of TUNEL positivity and annexin V positivity.'] Are anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies from celiac patients responsible for trophoblast damage via apoptosis in vitro?