title: Antigen presenting cells and HLA-G--a review.
abstract: Maternal antigen presenting cells, which are macrophages and dendritic cells, are scattered throughout human decidualized endometrium during all stages of pregnancy. These powerful, multi-functional leukocytes reside in close proximity to uterine glandular epithelium, uterine blood vessels, and HLA-G-producing invasive cytotrophoblast cells. Macrophages and dendritic cells, which express the HLA-G receptors, ILT2 and ILT4, play major roles in driving innate and adaptive immune responses, altering the behavior of local stromal cells, shaping the cytokine microenvironment, and protecting the tissue from infection. Therefore, encounters between decidual antigen presenting cells and HLA-G molecules are likely to influence uterine and placental homeostasis as well as local maternal immune responses to the fetus during pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA.
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: McIntire
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Hunt
mesh_terms: D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D017209:Apoptosis; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003656:Decidua / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D059951:HLA-G Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange / Q000276:immunology; D018448:Models, Immunological; D010641:Phenotype; D011247:Pregnancy; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D006680:HLA Antigens; D059951:HLA-G Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic