Pregnancy is a unique symbiotic union between mother and fetus which contradicts many of the general rules of immunology. The maternal immune system reacts towards the foreign tissue, but instead of triggering rejection, it tolerates, supports and regulates its development. The immunological mechanisms allowing the fetus to grow and survive are complex and may be affected by internal and external factors which may result in pregnancy disorders including infertility, abortions and preeclamptic disease. In this book, leading scientists present the latest findings on the physiological mechanisms required for successful pregnancies, and the pathologies that may be caused by a disturbance of these mechanisms. The regulation of maternal NK cells, T cells and dendritic cells through hormones, cytokines, the complement system and HLA as well as other cell surface molecules is described in detail.
Author(s): Udo R. Markert
Series: Chemical Immunology
Edition: 1
Publisher: S. Karger AG (Switzerland)
Year: 2005
Language: English
Commentary: 60733
Pages: 201
Cover......Page 1
Contents......Page 6
Preface......Page 14
Introduction......Page 19
Decidual T Cells......Page 18
Cumulus Oophorus T Cells......Page 22
References......Page 23
Distribution of IL-15 and IL-15R at the Maternal-Fetal Interface......Page 25
Influence of IL-15 on Cytokine Production......Page 27
Influence of IL-15 on Cytolytic Potential......Page 28
Biological Significance of IL-15 at the MaternalmFetal Interface......Page 29
Distribution of IL-18 and IL-18R Expression at the Maternal-Fetal Interface......Page 30
Role of IL-18 on Cytokine Production......Page 31
Role of IL-18 on the Cytolytic Potential......Page 32
Biological Significance of IL-18 at the Maternal-Fetal Interface......Page 33
References......Page 34
Lymphocytes at the Fetomaternal Interface......Page 41
Cytokines and Growth Factors in the Decidua with Capacity to Use the JAK/STAT Pathway......Page 42
IL-4-Induced Signaling......Page 43
IL-2-Induced Signaling......Page 44
Suppressors of Cytokine Signaling......Page 45
JAK/STAT Signaling in NK Cells......Page 46
References......Page 47
Introduction......Page 51
Tolerance Concepts......Page 52
CD200-CD200R Interaction......Page 55
What about Atypical Class I-b Molecules such as HLA-G and HLA-E?......Page 57
What about Apoptosis-Inducing Molecules?......Page 58
What about IDO?......Page 59
References......Page 60
Introduction......Page 64
Trophoblast Invasion......Page 65
Balancing Act between Inflammatory and Anti-Inflammatory Immune Responses......Page 67
Tumour Necrosis Factor-alpha......Page 69
Other Cytokines......Page 70
Apoptosis and Syncytial Knots......Page 71
Free Radicals......Page 72
Toxic Substances of Preeclampsia......Page 73
References......Page 74
Introduction......Page 77
TNF-alpha as an Inducer of Embryonic Death......Page 78
The Blastocyst and Uterus as Targets for TNF-alpha......Page 80
Signaling between TNF-alpha and LIF......Page 81
Conclusion......Page 83
References......Page 84
Introduction......Page 87
Unique Subsets of dNK Cells......Page 88
Unique HLA Class I Expression of Fetal-Derived Invading Extravillous Cytotrophoblast......Page 89
A Number of dNK Cell Receptors May Interact with Extravillous Trophoblast HLA Class I Molecules......Page 90
Distinct Functions for dNK Cells in Pregnancy?......Page 92
dNK Cells Do Produce Cytokines......Page 93
Conclusion......Page 94
References......Page 95
Introduction......Page 99
Biology of NK Cells and NK Cell Receptors......Page 100
Implication of NKR-HLA Interactions in Pregnancy......Page 101
Implication of NKR-HLA Interactions in Abortion......Page 102
Importance of the inhKIR/HLA-C Interactions......Page 104
References......Page 106
Antigen-Presenting Cells in General......Page 111
Dendritic Cells......Page 112
APC in Decidua......Page 114
The Functional Role of Decidual APC......Page 117
References......Page 118
Introduction......Page 120
The Mechanisms of Leukocyte Extravasation......Page 122
Leukocyte-Vascular Homing Interactions at the Maternal/Fetal Interface during the Critical Period of Initial Placenta Development......Page 123
Leukocyte-Vascular Homing Interactions at the Maternal/Fetal Interface from Midgestation to Term......Page 126
Chemokines at the Maternal/Fetal Interface......Page 128
References......Page 129
Progesterone-Induced Blocking Factor Mediates the Immunological Effects of Progesterone......Page 133
Biological Effects of PIBF......Page 134
Cytokine Effects and Signal Transduction......Page 135
PIBF Concentration in Pregnancy Urine Is Related to the Outcome of Pregnancy......Page 136
PIBF Exerts an Antiabortive Effect in Mice......Page 137
References......Page 138
Introduction......Page 141
RTF and Pregnancy......Page 142
RTF Is a V-ATPase......Page 143
RTF, Apoptosis and Cellular Activation......Page 144
RTF and IL-1beta......Page 145
References......Page 147
Introduction......Page 150
Decidualization and NGF......Page 151
Neurotrophins and Apoptosis at the Fetomaternal Interface......Page 153
Interactions between Neurotrophins and Progesterone......Page 155
Indoleamine 2,3-Dioxygenase Expression and NGF......Page 156
Adverse Pregnancy Outcome: Stress and Pregnancy Loss......Page 157
Concluding Remarks......Page 158
Acknowledgment......Page 159
References......Page 160
Introduction......Page 164
The Complement System......Page 167
Deposition of Complement Components on Placentae in Physiological Pregnancies......Page 168
Regulators of the Complement System in Human Placenta......Page 169
Complement Deposition on Placentae in Pathological Pregnancies......Page 170
References......Page 171
The Role of Asymmetric Antibodies......Page 173
Asymmetric Antibodies and Pregnancy......Page 175
The Synthesis of Asymmetric Antibodies and the Placenta......Page 176
IL-6 and Asymmetric Antibodies......Page 177
Intracellular Mechanisms of Asymmetric IgG Glycosylation......Page 179
References......Page 181
In Loving Memory......Page 183
Tumor Immunology......Page 184
Pregnancy-Malignancy Interactions......Page 185
Viruses......Page 186
Antirejection Therapies......Page 187
Immunosuppressive Therapy......Page 188
The Th2-Prone Immune Response......Page 189
Pregnancy-Allergy Interactions......Page 190
References......Page 191
Author Index......Page 195
D......Page 196
I......Page 197
P......Page 198
T......Page 199
V......Page 200
