Maternal recognition of the (semi) allogeneic fetus during implantation and pregnancy

Abstract

The recognition of __self__ and __none-self__ is one of the most important mechanisms for the human immune system whether or not to mediate a response. Cells identified as __self__ are tolerated whereas __non-self__ cells induce a cytotoxic reaction. However, during pregnancy the maternal immune system has to tolerate the presence of __non-self__ cells in maternal tissue, as the fetus is semi-allogeneic expressing both maternal and paternal antigens. This immunological acceptance of the __non-self__ fetus for the duration of pregnancy is called the immunological paradox. In this thesis we focused on the maternal immune recognition during implantation, pregnancy and pregnancy complications. Though pregnancy is sometimes considered as an immune deficient condition, both the innate as the adaptive immunity are activated and several aspects of these immune systems are studied in this thesis.