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Updated: Aug 7, 2026
08:19
Isolation of Leukocytes from the Human Maternal-fetal Interface
Published on: May 21, 2015
NK cells and human pregnancy--an inflammatory view
Ian L Sargent1, Angela M Borzychowski, Christopher W G Redman
1Nuffield Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Oxford, UK, OX3 9DU. ian.sargent@obs-gyn.ox.ac.uk
Trends in Immunology
|July 18, 2006
Summary
Pregnancy involves controlled inflammation and interactions between placental trophoblast and maternal natural killer (NK) cells. Dysfunctional NK cell activation may cause pre-eclampsia.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive immunology
- Maternal-fetal immune interactions
- Inflammation in pregnancy
Background:
- The Th1/Th2 hypothesis previously dominated reproductive immunology.
- Recent findings indicate normal pregnancy involves controlled inflammation.
- Immune interactions in the decidua primarily involve trophoblast and natural killer (NK) cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To extend the understanding of trophoblast-NK cell interactions to the maternal circulation.
- To explore how trophoblast stimulates the maternal systemic inflammatory response.
- To investigate the role of dysfunctional NK cell activation in pre-eclampsia.
Main Methods:
- Review and synthesis of existing research on reproductive immunology.
- Analysis of immune cell interactions at the maternal-fetal interface.
- Exploration of the systemic inflammatory response during pregnancy.
Main Results:
- The concept of controlled inflammation challenges the Th1/Th2 hypothesis.
- Trophoblast-maternal NK cell interactions are significant in the decidua and circulation.
- Novel mechanisms for trophoblast-mediated inflammatory stimulation are proposed.
Conclusions:
- Pregnancy involves a controlled inflammatory state, not solely a Th2 bias.
- Trophoblast-NK cell interactions are crucial for successful pregnancy.
- NK cell dysfunction is implicated as a potential cause of pre-eclampsia.
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