title: NK cells and pre-eclampsia.
abstract: The immunological interaction between the mother and fetus has classically been thought of as one between paternal antigen and maternal T cells. However, the MHC antigen expression on human trophoblast and the immune cell populations present in the decidua suggest that this interaction primarily involves decidual NK cells rather than T cells, and this is supported by new functional studies. It is becoming apparent also that the maternal systemic immune response in pregnancy (Th1/Th2 shift) primarily involves NK cells. Aberrant NK cell activation both locally in the decidua and systemically in the maternal blood may be the cause of pre-eclampsia.
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK. ian.sargent@obs-gyn.ox.ac.uk
authors.forename: I L
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Sargent
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Borzychowski
authors.forename: C W G
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Redman
mesh_terms: D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D003656:Decidua / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D054340:Receptors, KIR / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D054340:Receptors, KIR