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Immune Suppression and Th1/Th2 Balance in Pregnancy Revisited: A (Very) Personal Tribute to Tom Wegmann
Author(s) -
Chaouat Gérard,
Diallo Juliette Tranchot,
Volumenie Jean Luc,
Menu Elisabeth,
Gras Gabriel,
Delage Geneviéve,
Mognetti Barbara
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
american journal of reproductive immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.071
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1600-0897
pISSN - 1046-7408
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0897.1997.tb00255.x
Subject(s) - immunosuppression , decidua , immune system , placenta , immune tolerance , biology , immunology , fetus , pregnancy , genetics
PROBLEM: The paradigm of local suppression necessary to understand the survival of the fetal allograft is often compared with the host‐tumor relationship. METHODS: We investigated two components of local immune suppression: placenta‐induced immunosuppression, which is mediated at least in part by a soluble factor of low molecular weight that can induce anergy in lymphocytes, and interleukin‐10 (IL‐10). RESULTS: We show that enhancement of IL‐10 production in the decidua and placenta after alloimmunization requires the presence of Asialo GM1+ cells. Placenta‐induced immunosuppression is linked with defects in phosphorylation of some components of the T cell receptor. CONCLUSION: NK cells could be in fact regulatory cells pushing maternal immune response toward a Th2 profile, beneficial for fetal survival, or toward a Th1 type of immune response, which acts in synergy. Modulation of TcR may represent a new mechanism for maternal‐fetal tolerance.