Immune parameters affecting maternal tolerance towards the fetus in normal and aberrant pregnancies

Craenmehr, M.H.C. (2020)

Doctoral Thesis

Pregnancy can be seen as an immunologic paradox. Even though the fetus expresses paternally inherited alloantigens it is protected from rejection by a proper regulation of the maternal immune system. With the studies described in this thesis, we want to get more insight in the immunologic mechanisms that play a role in pregnancy. The results of this research can help to identify underlying etiologies in patients with unexplained pregnancy complications, such as recurrent miscarriage. Identifying these causes is important for providing answers and taking away anxiety in these couples, and eventually for the development of effective therapies. Furthermore, elucidating the mechanism leading to survival or rejection of the fetal allograft is not only essential for our understanding of processes leading to normal and abnormal pregnancies, but may also result in important concepts in the field of transplantation and autoimmunity.

• Immunology
• Pregnancy
• Recurrent miscarriage
• Pregnancy complications
• Tolerance
• Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)
• Placenta
• Maternal immune response

• All authors: Craenmehr, M.H.C.
• Supervisor: Claas, F.H.J.
• Co-supervisor: Eikmans, M.; Heidt, S.
• Committee: Jager, M.J.; Bloemenkamp, K.W.M.; Scherjon, S.A.
• Qualification: Doctor (dr.)
• Awarding Institution: Faculty of Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center [LUMC], Leiden University
• Date: 2020-06-16
• ISBN (print): 9789463326261
• Sponsorship: National Reference Center for Histocompatibility Testing, NVLE, GenDx, ICT Healthcare Technology Solutions BV, ChipSoft, CleanAir by Baker, VPS diagnositics