Progesterone and the immunology of pregnancy.
The foetal-placental unit is a semi-allograft and the immunological recognition of pregnancy, together with the subsequent response of the maternal immune system, is necessary for a successful pregnancy. This recognition of pregnancy results in an upregulation of progesterone receptors on activated lymphocytes amongst placental cells and decidual CD56+ cells. In the presence of sufficient progesterone, these cells synthesise progesterone induced blocking factor (PIBF), a mediator that exerts substantial anti-abortive activities. PIBF affects B cells and induces an increased production of asymmetric, non-cytotoxic antibodies. It also alters the profile of cytokine secretion by activated lymphocytes resulting in an increase in the production of non-inflammatory, non-cytotoxic interleukins (IL) (e.g. IL-3, IL-4 and IL-10) and a reduction in the production of inflammatory, cytotoxic cytokines (e.g. interferon (IFN)-delta, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and IL-2). PIBF also inhibits the cytotoxicity of natural killer (NK) cells by blocking their degranulation and perforin release, as well as inhibiting IFN-delta, TNF-alpha and IL-2-mediated transformation of NK cells into detrimental lymphokine activated killer (LAK) cells.
Druckmann
René
R
A.N.E.M.O.-Centre de ménopause, 10-12 Rue de France, F 06000 Nice, France. renedruckman@aol.com
Druckmann
Marc-Alexandre
MA
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange / Q000276:immunology; D008954:Models, Biological; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000276:immunology*; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D013491:Suppressor Factors, Immunologic; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis
D016207:Cytokines; C110058:PIBF1 protein, human; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D013491:Suppressor Factors, Immunologic; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D011374:Progesterone