UI  - 97465265
TI  - The maternal-fetal immune relationship in pregnancy.
AB  - The mother establishes with the fetus a special interaction in
      pregnancy allowing his normal survival in spite of the different HLA
      antigens. The main factors contributing to these favourable
      conditions for the fetus are an efficient local immunosuppression and
      the formation of a protective barrier between the mother and the
      fetus. A number of substances are responsible for the local
      immunosuppression and include cytokines, prostaglandins, hormones as
      well as various other proteins of pregnancy. In addition, cytokines
      produced by TH2 lymphocytes seem to be predominant with respect to
      those of TH1 cells. An effective protection is provided by the
      trophoblast layer, which not only forms a physical barrier between
      the mother and the fetus but evades the immune attack of the mother
      by expressing inhibitory molecules of the complement system and by
      down regulating the expression of HLA antigens. Data obtained from
      murine models and clinical observation in pathological pregnancies
      suggest that an abnormal immune response of the mother against the
      feto-placental unit may be responsible for the occurrence of
      recurrent spontaneous abortions. This is proved by the ability of the
      partner's lymphocytes administered to females in the mouse model
      prior to mating to reduce the incidence of abortions. Unfortunately,
      similar treatment in women with recurrent abortion does not appear to
      be very effective.