title: Immunosuppressor factor(s) produced by decidua-associated suppressor cells: a proposed mechanism for fetal allograft survival.
abstract: Mechanisms that explain failure of rejection of the antigenic fetus by the mother appear to lie at the fetomaternal interface. Successful pregnancies have been correlated with the presence of decidua-associated suppressor cells. Supernatants from these cells were tested for their ability to suppress the proliferation of interleukin 2-dependent cells and were also subjected to high-performance liquid chromatography. Decidual supernatant was found to have peak suppressive activity at two molecular weights (43,000 and 21,000 daltons). The activity of decidual supernatant was directed specifically at interleukin 2-dependent cells and interfered with interleukin 2 action. The importance of this mechanism in graft rejection is well known. Decidual supernatant may thus prevent fetal allograft rejection by preventing the maternal cytotoxic effectors from receiving the interleukin 2-dependent help that they need to proliferate and remain actively cytolytic.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003656:Decidua / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D013491:Suppressor Factors, Immunologic / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D013491:Suppressor Factors, Immunologic