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Maternal anti-placental cell-mediated reactivity and spontaneous abortions
1Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University.
Abstract
Problem:
Does Th1/Th2 balance determine pregnancy outcome, and if so, what determines Th1/Th2 balance in pregnancy?
Method:
Review and synthesis of existing data.
Results:
A bias toward Th1 is strongly correlated with pregnancy failure in mice and humans. Pregnancy usually shifts the balance toward Th2 and placental factors/progesterone and progesterone-stimulated CD8+ T cell production of suppressor factor; TGFbeta2 and IL4/10 may be responsible. The bias toward a Th1 response may result from intracellular parasitic infection and other as yet undefined factors.
Conclusion:
The Th1/Th2 balance thesis appears to be valid.