T cell awareness of paternal alloantigens during pregnancy.
During pregnancy a semiallogeneic fetus survives despite the presence of maternal T cells specific for paternally inherited histocompatibility antigens. A mouse transgenic for a T cell receptor recognizing the major histocompatibility (MHC) antigen H-2Kb was used to follow the fate of T cells reactive to paternal alloantigens. In contrast to syngeneic and third-party allogeneic pregnancies, mice bearing a Kb-positive conceptus had reduced numbers of Kb-reactive T cells and accepted Kb-positive tumor grafts. T cell phenotype and responsiveness were restored after delivery. Thus, during pregnancy maternal T cells acquire a transient state of tolerance specific for paternal alloantigens.
Tafuri
A
A
Tumor Immunology Program, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
Alferink
J
J
Möller
P
P
Hämmerling
G J
GJ
Arnold
B
B
D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005220:Fathers; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000276:immunology*; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006183:H-2 Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D016513:Mice, SCID; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D010641:Phenotype; D010920:Placenta / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000276:immunology*; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D006183:H-2 Antigens; C032876:H-2Kb protein, mouse; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell