Regulatory T cells and regulatory natural killer (NK) cells play important roles in feto-maternal tolerance.
In the early pregnancy decidua, lymphocytes express some activation markers on their surface, suggesting that maternal lymphocytes are activated and recognize the semiallograftic fetus. Therefore, the immunoregulation system must work to prevent fetus rejection. Recent data showed that parts of the immunoregulation system such as CD4+CD25+ regulatory T (Treg) cells, Th3 cells, Tr1 cells, regulatory NK cells, and a tryptophan-catabolizing enzyme, indolamine 2,3 deoxygenase, play very important roles in the maintenance of pregnancy. Not only Treg cells but also regulatory NK cells may inhibit maternal T cell or NK cell fetal attack.
Saito
Shigeru
S
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama 930-0194, Japan. s30saito@med.u-toyama.ac.jp
Shiozaki
Arihiro
A
Sasaki
Yasushi
Y
Nakashima
Akitoshi
A
Shima
Tomoko
T
Ito
Mika
M
D000818:Animals; D003656:Decidua / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
D006680:HLA Antigens