Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 20, 2026

Isolation of Leukocytes from the Murine Tissues at the Maternal-Fetal Interface
07:51

Isolation of Leukocytes from the Murine Tissues at the Maternal-Fetal Interface

Published on: May 21, 2015

The changing maternal "self" hypothesis: a mechanism for maternal tolerance of the fetus

K M Adams1, Z Yan, A M Stevens

  • 1Division of Clinical Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Human Immunogenetics Program, 1100 Fairview Ave. N., D2-100, P.O. Box 19024, Seattle, WA 98109-1024, USA. adamsk@u.washington.edu <adamsk@u.washington.edu>

Placenta
|August 29, 2006
PubMed

Recent advances in placental biology and immunology lead us to propose a novel hypothesis for maternal tolerance of the semi-allogeneic fetus and amelioration of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) during pregnancy. The initial event in this hypothesis is extrusion of placental apoptotic syncytiotrophoblast debris recently identified to contain intracellular fetal HLA Class II molecules, into maternal blood. The second event is uptake of apoptotic syncytiotrophoblast by immature maternal dendritic cells and presentation of fetal HLA class II peptides. In addition to presenting foreign antigens, HLA molecules also present HLA self-peptides. In the setting of the non-inflammatory environment of pregnancy, this process is expected to induce peripheral tolerance of fetal antigens through T cell death, anergy or induction of regulatory T cells in the lymph nodes. This hypothesis suggests a mechanism by which the simultaneous presentation of fetal and self (RA-associated) HLA peptides by tolerogenic dendritic cells during pregnancy may explain the observed amelioration of RA as a secondary benefit of fetal tolerance. After delivery, apoptotic syncytiotrophoblast debris disappears from maternal blood, autoimmunity returns and RA recurs. Thus, during pregnancy maternal immunologic "self" includes fetal HLA Class II as a result of apoptotic syncytiotrophoblast uptake by maternal tolerogenic dendritic cells.

More Related Videos

Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants06:39

Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants

Published on: June 13, 2021

Analysis of Electrocardiograms and Behavior in Mice from Pregnancy to Lactation Period06:40

Analysis of Electrocardiograms and Behavior in Mice from Pregnancy to Lactation Period

Published on: April 5, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Parental Care00:55

Parental Care

Many animals exhibit parental care behavior, including feeding, grooming, and protecting young offspring. Parental care is universal in mammals and birds, which often have young that are born relatively helpless. Several species of insects and fish, as well as some amphibians, also care for their young.
Development of Human Microbiota01:30

Development of Human Microbiota

The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...
Development of Immunocompetence01:22

Development of Immunocompetence

The initiation of cell-mediated immunity can be observed as early as the third month of fetal growth, with active antibody-mediated immunity following approximately one month later.
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
Transcytosis of IgG01:15

Transcytosis of IgG

Transcytosis is the process in which molecules are internalized by endocytosis, transported across the cell, and released through exocytosis from the opposite end of the cell. Molecules such as insulin, immunoglobulins, and certain nutrients are transferred through the recycling endosomes by recycling and transcytosis.
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...
Horney's Sociocultural Approach01:27

Horney's Sociocultural Approach

Karen Horney's psychoanalytic theories emphasize the potential for self-realization and the importance of addressing social and cultural, rather than biological, factors in personality development. She challenged traditional Freudian views, particularly Freud's concept of "penis envy," which she argued stemmed from cultural influences rather than inherent biological differences. Horney believed that any sense of inferiority in women was a result of societal conditioning, such as dependence on...
Social Foundations of Self II: The Generalized Other01:20

Social Foundations of Self II: The Generalized Other

According to George Herbert Mead, as children progress beyond the game stage, they develop a more comprehensive understanding of societal rules and norms. This cognitive and social development enables them to internalize the expectations of the broader community, refining their ability to regulate behavior.Consistent participation in organized activities is crucial in helping children recognize that their actions are not isolated but contribute to a more significant, interconnected group effort.