Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Why isn't the fetus rejected?

A Erlebacher1

  • 1Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, FXB 205, 651 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA. aerlebac@hsph.harvard.edu

Current Opinion in Immunology
|September 7, 2001
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Establishment of fetomaternal tolerance through glycan-mediated B cell suppression.

Nature·2022
Same author

Literature watch. Cytotrophoblast induction of arterial apoptosis and lymphangiogenesis in an in vivo model of human placentation.

Lymphatic research and biology·2007
Same author

Inhibition of TGF-beta receptor signaling in osteoblasts leads to decreased bone remodeling and increased trabecular bone mass.

Development (Cambridge, England)·1999
Same author

Osteoblastic responses to TGF-beta during bone remodeling.

Molecular biology of the cell·1998
Same author

Increased expression of TGF-beta 2 in osteoblasts results in an osteoporosis-like phenotype.

The Journal of cell biology·1996
Same author

Toward a molecular understanding of skeletal development.

Cell·1995
Same journal

Noncanonical ion channel signaling in neurovascular barrier regulation and immune cell trafficking.

Current opinion in immunology·2026
Same journal

A blind spot of human T cell immunology: epitope specificity in secondary lymphoid organs.

Current opinion in immunology·2026
Same journal

Germinal center responses at barrier organ sites.

Current opinion in immunology·2026
Same journal

Ocular sarcoidosis: from clinical signs to targeted interventions.

Current opinion in immunology·2026
Same journal

On or within: spatial determinants of antigen handling in the nasal turbinates.

Current opinion in immunology·2026
Same journal

Decoding the complexity of intestinal immunity with spatial transcriptomics.

Current opinion in immunology·2026
See all related articles

Pregnancy involves a unique immune tolerance, where the fetus (fetal allograft) isn't rejected. Recent mouse studies explore uterine natural killer (NK) cells and other immune factors contributing to this maternal immune tolerance.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive immunology
  • Maternal-fetal tolerance

Background:

  • The maternal immune system must tolerate the semi-allogeneic fetus.
  • Mechanisms preventing fetal rejection are crucial for successful pregnancy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent insights into the mechanisms of fetal allograft immune tolerance during pregnancy.
  • To highlight key areas of research including uterine immune cells and molecular pathways.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent studies, primarily in mouse models.
  • Focus on uterine natural killer (NK) cells, natural killer T (NKT) cells.
  • Examination of complement inhibition and the role of 1-methyl-tryptophan.

Main Results:

  • Uterine NK cells play a significant role in regulating the maternal immune response.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Complement inhibition may prevent inflammatory damage.
  • 1-methyl-tryptophan influences immune cell activity relevant to pregnancy.

    • Conclusions:

    • Renewed interest in fetal allograft tolerance is yielding significant insights.
    • Multiple immune mechanisms, including cellular and molecular factors, contribute to successful pregnancy.
    • Further research in mouse models informs our understanding of human pregnancy immunology.