title: Apoptosis in the first trimester human placenta: the role in maintaining immune privilege at the maternal-foetal interface and in the trophoblast remodelling.
abstract: Apoptosis has been proposed as a mechanism for maintaining immune privilege. Expression of Fas ligand (FasL) by the human trophoblast has been recently accepted as a mechanism providing protection against the lytic action of activated decidual immune cells expressing Fas receptor (FasR). Therefore, the purpose of this review was to determine the role of apoptosis in early pregnancy maintenance according to the latest literature. We used Medline literature search. The data suggest that apoptosis may serve as a previously unsuspected mechanism that induces tolerance of the foetal allograft against maternal immune system. Apoptosis of activated maternal immune cells occurs in the human decidua mainly through Fas-FasL or receptor for TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL-R)-TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) signalling. This might be a defence mechanism against rejection of the foetal allograft by the maternal immune system. In addition, in this review contribution of programmed cell death to placental cell turnover and remodelling during first trimester of pregnancy is also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Reproductive Immunology, Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 12 R. Weigl St., 53-114, Wroclaw, Poland. jerzak@immuno.iitd.pan.wroc.pl
authors.forename: Malgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jerzak
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bischof
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D003656:Decidua / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D016239:MEDLINE; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000502:physiology; D010920:Placenta / Q000166:cytology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000276:immunology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000502:physiology; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; C505653:TNFSF10 protein, human; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D019014:fas Receptor