Current knowledge on natural killer cells, pregnancy and pre-eclampsia. Introduction.
The introduction to this review discusses briefly why immunology, perceived as difficult by assisted reproduction technology clinicians, need nevertheless be envisaged as a central actor in the reproduction process, and how the maternal immune system, initially perceived as a threat to the fetoplacental unit, is in fact utterly necessary for successful pregnancy. The key cells in such a process are uterine natural killer cells, which can act as friend or foe to the fetus, but are now known to play a key role in local vasculogenesis. As an ultimate consequence in cases of dysfunction/dysregulation, these factors result in implantation failure, abortion or pre-eclampsia.
Chaouat
Gérard
G
U 782 INSERM, Equipe implantation et dialogue cytokinique mère conceptus, 32 rue des Carnets et Hôpital Antoine Béclère Pavillon Jean Dalsace, 92141 Clamart France. gerard_chaouat@wanadoo.fr
D000818:Animals; D020964:Embryo Loss / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000502:physiology*; D019359:Knowledge; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange / Q000276:immunology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000502:physiology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000502:physiology