Learning immunology from mothers and babies - PubMed
4 hours ago
- #pregnancy immunology
- #maternal-fetal tolerance
- #microchimerism
- Pregnancy represents an immunological paradox allowing genetically distinct maternal and fetal tissues to coexist.
- Shared immunity includes microchimerism (exchange of intact cells) and transfer of maternal IgG antibodies to the fetus.
- Key unresolved questions include why mothers don't reject fetal tissues and why fetal immune cells don't attack maternal tissues.
- Understanding pregnancy immunity could lead to therapies for disorders like stillbirth, preeclampsia, and preterm birth.
- Insights from pregnancy immunology can inform broader contexts requiring immune tolerance, such as in transplantation or autoimmunity.
- Emerging areas of focus include maternal memory immune cells, microchimerism, and vertically transferred antibodies.