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Isolation of Leukocytes from the Murine Tissues at the Maternal-Fetal Interface
Published on: May 21, 2015
Immunological analogy between allograft rejection, recurrent abortion and pre-eclampsia - the same basic mechanism?
1Department of Gynecological Surgery, Polish Mother's Health Center Research Institute, Lodz, Poland. jrwil@post.pl
Human Immunology
|July 11, 2006
Summary
Recurrent abortions (RA) and pre-eclampsia (PE) may be linked to fetal allograft rejection, not autoimmune diseases. Immune responses in RA and PE resemble graft rejection, suggesting a shared evolutionary origin.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Reproductive Medicine
- Transplantation Immunology
Background:
- Controversies exist regarding immunological mechanisms in recurrent abortions (RA) and pre-eclampsia (PE).
- Some theories propose RA is an organ-specific autoimmune disease.
- Immune reactions in RA and PE share similarities with graft rejection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of immunological mechanisms in recurrent abortions (RA) and pre-eclampsia (PE).
- To determine if RA and PE are syndromes of fetal allograft rejection or organ-specific autoimmune diseases.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of immune reactions in RA and PE.
- Comparison of immune mechanisms with graft rejection processes.
- Evaluation of immunocompetent cell subsets and functions.
- Assessment of innate immunity activation, cytokine balance (Th1/Th2), and molecular interactions (HLA-G, CD200/CD200R).
Main Results:
- Over-activation of innate immunity (NK cells, macrophages, neutrophils, complement) observed.
- Altered Th1/Th2 cytokine balance noted (e.g., increased IFNgamma, TNFalpha; decreased IL-4, IL-10).
- Key molecular interactions and expressions (HLA-G, CD200/CD200R, fgl2, IDO, HO) implicated.
- Evidence suggests RA and PE are syndromes of fetal allograft rejection.
Conclusions:
- Recurrent abortions and pre-eclampsia are likely syndromes of fetal allograft rejection.
- An evolutionary origin may link transplanted organ rejection and pregnancy loss.
- Analogies can be drawn between acute graft rejection and RA, and chronic graft rejection and PE.
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