Immunology at the maternal-fetal interface: lessons for T cell tolerance and suppression.
Mammalian reproduction poses an immunological paradox because fetal alloantigens encoded by genes inherited from the father should provoke responses by maternal T cells leading to fetal loss. Current understanding of T cell immunobiology and the critical role of inflammatory processes during pregnancy is reviewed and discussed. Lessons derived from studies on the regulation of T cell responsiveness during mammalian gestation are considered in the wider context of T cell tolerance toward some microbial infections and tumors, avoidance of autoimmunity, and tissue allograft rejection.
Mellor
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Program in Molecular Immunology, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics, Medical College of Georgia 30912, USA. mellor@immag.mcg.edu mcg.edu.
Munn
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DH
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000276:immunology*; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*