Journal of Reproductive Immunology
Volume 85, Issue 1 , Pages 71-75, May 2010

T cell tolerance towards the fetal allograft

  • Marie-Pierre Piccinni

      Affiliations

    • Center of Excellence for Research, Transfer and High Education DENOTHE of the University of Florence, Florence, Italy
    • Department of Internal Medicine, Immunoallergology Unit, University of Florence, 85 viale Morgagni, 50134 Florence, Italy
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorrespondence address: Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, Viale Morgagni, 85, Firenze 50134, Italy. Tel.: +39 055 4271499; fax: +39 055 4271500.

Received 12 October 2009; received in revised form 25 November 2009; accepted 22 January 2010. published online 08 March 2010.

Abstract 

The conceptus is considered a semi-allograft because of the presence of paternal HLA-C molecules. These alloantigens can be processed by maternal antigen presenting cells, which present them to specific maternal CD4+ T cells. After activation, the maternal CD4+ T cells can become effector decidual CD4+ T cells, which are able to release various cytokines. Th1-type cytokines (IFNγ) that promote allograft rejection may compromise pregnancy, whereas the Th2-type cytokines (IL-4, IL-10) that inhibit Th1 responses, promote allograft tolerance and therefore may improve fetal survival. A collaborative interaction between the decidual natural regulatory T cells, CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3 T cells and NKT cells in preventing fetal allograft rejection is suggested.

Keywords: Pregnancy, T helper, Cytokines, Abortion, Immune tolerance, Rejection

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PII: S0165-0378(10)00041-0

doi:10.1016/j.jri.2010.01.006

Journal of Reproductive Immunology
Volume 85, Issue 1 , Pages 71-75, May 2010

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