Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 29, 2026

Isolation of Leukocytes from the Human Maternal-fetal Interface
Published on: May 21, 2015
Does nitric oxide play a role in maternal tolerance towards the foetus?
A González1, A S López, E Alegre
1Department of Clinical Biochemistry, University of Navarra, Spain. agonzaleh@unav.es
Abstract:
In pregnancy there occurs maternal tolerance to the foetus. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain this phenomenon. The main immune population in the decidua are macrophages and natural killer cells, but with some "special" suppressor characteristics. There is also a predominant TH2 response. The non classical MCH type I HLA-G is expressed by trophoblasts and can suppress lymphomononuclear cytotoxicity. Other system to avoid the immune system is the expression of indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase, that suppresses T cell activation by degrading tryptophan. Even though in the placenta there is a high production of nitric oxide, a well-known immune modulator, low attention has been paid to its role in maternal tolerance. There are many data showing that NO affects the IDO, CD95/CD95-L and the balance between TH1/TH2. Maybe NO could interact with several mechanisms at the same time, which could modify the tolerogenic activity depending on the concentration and the presence of other factors in the medium.
Related Concept Videos
Transcytosis of IgG
IgG molecules from a mother undergo transcytosis starting around 13 weeks of gestation. The amount of IgG transferred and entering the fetal blood circulation increases with...
Nitric Oxide Signaling Pathway
Teratogenicity
Physiological Barriers
The blood endothelial barrier is the most porous of these. It allows all small ionized, un-ionized, and lipophilic molecules to pass through the endothelial lining into the interstitial space...

