Immunologic and neuroendocrine interactions in pregnancy

The neuroendocrine system helps in the success of the fetal graft by suppressing maternal cellular immune response against the foreign paternal histocompatibility (HLA) antigens. In addition, placenta absorbs the antibodies directed against the paternal HLA antigens, thus inhibiting the humoral rejection of the fetal graft. In contrast, neuropeptides released in the maternal blood stream under adverse mental states may stimulate lymphocyte blastogenesis and natural killer (NK) cell activity resulting in premature loss of the fetus. Further, homozygosity of a lethal gene which is in linkage disequilibrium with HLA genes may have a role in some unexplained fetal deaths.