Open AccessAdaptation of the immune system as a response to pregnancy
Author(s) -
L Milasinović,
Sanja Bulatović,
Djordje Ilić,
L Ivanović,
Mirjana Zupanski
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
medicinski pregled
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1820-7383
pISSN - 0025-8105
DOI - 10.2298/mpns0208305m
Subject(s) - immune system , decidua , immunology , fetus , placenta , antigen , medicine , pregnancy , antibody , cytotoxic t cell , immunosuppression , biology , in vitro , genetics
Pregnancy is an intriguing immunologic phenomenon. In spite of genetic differences, maternal and fetal cells are in close contact over the whole course of pregnancy with no evidence of either humoral and/or cellular immunologic response of mother to fetus as an allotransplant. The general opinion is that the fundamental protective mechanism must be located locally at the contact-plate, between the maternal and fetal tissues. Immunologic investigations proved the presence of specific systems which block the function of antipaternal maternal antibodies, as well as formation of cytotoxic maternal T-cells to paternal antigens. The system preventing rejection of graft during pregnancy is functioning at the level of maternal and fetal tissues. The protective mechanisms are coded by genes of MCH region, locus HLA-G.