Neurotrophins: are they involved in immune tolerance in pregnancy?

Abstract

In this review, an attempt was made to substantiate the possibility for neurotrophins to be involved in the development of immune tolerance based on data accumulated on neurotrophin content and receptor expression in the trophoblast and immune cells, in particular, in natural killer cells. Numerous research results are reviewed to show that the expression and localization of neurotrophins along with their high-affinity tyrosine kinase receptors and low-affinity p75NTR receptor in the mother-placenta-fetus system indicate the important role of neurotrophins as binding molecules in regulating the crosstalk between the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems in pregnancy.An imbalance between these systems can occur with tumor growth and pathological processes observed in pregnancy complications and fetal development anomalies.

Pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and growth factors in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization procedure treated with prednisone

“…Neutrophins like BDNF ensure the survival, differentiation or death of neurons at the embryonic and postnatal stages of development. They also maintain the viability of neurons at a later age ( 31 , 63 ). Moreover, BDNF and its receptors are expressed in different regions of the human placenta, indicating the diverse functions of BDNF signaling in placental development ( 64 , 65 ).…”