The immunological problem of pregnancy: 50 years with the hope of progress. A tribute to Peter Medawar

Billington, W. D.

doi:10.1016/s0165-0378(03)00083-4

Cited by 134 publications

(94 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…60 The implantation site is the main location where the blastocyst establishes physical contact with the endometrium resulting in maternal allorecognition of the fetal antigens. Blastocyst implantation occurs at 7 days post-coitum in humans and 4.5 days post-coitum in mice.…”

Section: Micrornas and Immune Cells At The Maternal-fetal Interfacementioning

confidence: 99%

MicroRNAs, immune cells and pregnancy

et al. 2014

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MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a recently discovered class of non-coding RNAs that are expressed in many cell types, where they regulate the expression of complementary RNAs, thus modulating the stability and translation of mRNAs. miRNAs are predicted to regulate the expression of ,50% of all protein coding genes in mammals. Therefore, they participate in virtually all cellular processes investigated so far. Altered miRNAs expressions are associated with both physiological (pregnancy) and pathological processes (cancer). As the dynamic maternal-fetal interface plays a critical role in the maintenance of successful pregnancy, it is not surprising that the miRNAs that are unique to reproductive tissues are abundantly expressed. Research in this field has demonstrated the presence and dysregulation of a distinct set of pregnancy-associated miRNAs; however, most studies have centered on localizing various miRNAs in reproductive microdomains associated with normal or complicated pregnancies. Although several independent miRNA regulatory mechanisms associated with endometrial receptivity, immune cells, angiogenesis and placental development have been studied, miRNA-mediated regulation of pregnancy remains poorly understood. This review provides a summary of the current data on miRNA regulation as well as functional profiles of miRNAs that are found in the uterus, in immune cells associated with maternal tolerance to the fetus, and those involved in angiogenesis and placental development.

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Section: Micrornas and Immune Cells At The Maternal-fetal Interfacementioning

confidence: 99%

MicroRNAs, immune cells and pregnancy

et al. 2014

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“…However, this barrier is an active one and not passive or neutral as originally presumed. This active mechanism prevents fetal tissues from being recognized as foreign and/or from being rejected by the cells of the maternal immune system [2]. In early pregnancy, decidual maternal lymphocytes are activated and they recognize the semi-allogeneic fetus.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Oncofetal antigen/immature laminin receptor protein in pregnancy and cancer

Barsoum¹,

Schwarzenberger²

2014

Cellular and Molecular Biology Letters

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Abstract:The 37-kDa immature laminin receptor protein (iLRP) is a speciesconserved, universal immunogenic protein that is expressed in all thus-far examined embryonic and early fetal cells of inbred and outbred rodents. It has also been identified in human concepti. It is altered through normal maturation processes to become a non-immunogenic 67-kDa dimeric mature laminin receptor protein (mLRP) in mid-to late gestation in the mammalian fetus. This antigen ceases to be expressed as an active autoimmunogen in the full-term fetus and in the normal differentiating tissues and organs of the neonate or adult organism, apparently due to dimerization, but it is re-expressed as an immunogenic monomer in tumor cells. In this review, we highlight the known mechanisms of immune responses with particular emphasis on the possible role of the 37-kDa oncofetal antigen/immature laminin receptor (OFA/iLRP) in both pregnancy and cancer.

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“…Based on his pioneering studies demonstrating the role of tissue antigens in the recognition and rejection of skin grafts between genetically different individuals, and the work of others (reviewed in (Billington, 2003)) on the genetic basis of tumor transplant rejection in mice, Medawar recognized the truly paradoxical nature of the immunological relationship between the mother and her fetus. In his words: "The immunological problem of pregnancy may be formulated thus: How does the pregnant mother contrive to nourish within itself, for many weeks or months, a fetus that is an antigenically foreign body?"…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%