title: Maternal uterine natural killer cells nurture fetal growth: in medio stat virtus.
abstract: Much research in reproductive immunology is preoccupied with maternal tolerance of the semi-allogeneic fetus. This inevitably leads to the assumption that the maternal immune system should be suppressed, similarly to the immunosuppression needed to avoid rejection of an allograft. However, the parallels with transplantation immunology are misleading, and we discuss how interactions between variable immune system genes expressed on maternal natural killer (NK) cells and on the fetal trophoblast modulate fetal growth. Exaggerated suppression or activation of maternal NK cells associates with both extremes of birth weight.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge and Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, The Rosie Hospital, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0SW, UK. Electronic address: fc287@medschl.cam.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Colucci
authors.affiliation: Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge and Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, The Rosie Hospital, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0SW, UK.
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kieckbusch
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000276:immunology; D014599:Uterus / Q000276:immunology*
keywords: allorecognition; fetal growth; maternal tolerance; uterine natural killer cells