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Principles of Immunology > 12 Reproductive Immunology > Flashcards

12 Reproductive Immunology Flashcards

1
Q

what are the events in mammalian reproduction

A
  • production of gametes
  • mating
  • fertilisation
  • implantation
  • pregnancy
  • parturition
  • lactation
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2
Q

what is the production of gametes

A

gametes develop in an immunologically privileged environment

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3
Q

what happens in mating process

A

involves internal exchange of fluid

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4
Q

what happens in fertilisation

A

male and female gametes are genetically dissimilar

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5
Q

what happens in implantation

A

conceptus is half paternal (an ‘allograft’)

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6
Q

what is the effect of events in mammalian reproduction

A

all involve ‘genotypic confrontation’ - combination or potential interaction of different genotypes

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7
Q

what do all mammalian reproduction events have the potential for

A

immunological confrontation

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8
Q

effect of immunological self/non-self-identity established perinatally

A
  • establishment of class I MHC antigens unique to the individual, on all nucleated cells
  • clonal selection of T cells (by thymus gland) which don’t react to self but will react to non-self
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9
Q

what do antigen-antibody reactions lead to

A

activate the complement cascade

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10
Q

where do sperm develop

A

develop in immunologically privileged environment

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11
Q

where is sperm made

A

Sertoli cells

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12
Q

what is the complex membrane

A

(5/6 layers of complexity) – tubules don’t talk to anyone else

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13
Q

what does privileged mean for sperm

A

semen never contacts the blood (no AB for sperm)

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14
Q

what is the blood-testis barrier

A

Capillaries do not cross the membrane – sperm develop away from direct contact of blood = ‘blood-testis barrier’

  • no entry of blood into seminiferous tubule
  • no lymphocytes at site of sperm production
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15
Q

where is sperm released

A

externally

into epididymis

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16
Q

what can cross the ST membrane

A

IgG are small enough

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17
Q

what is the immunological significance of sperm

A

Recognition of self/non-self occurs perinatally, by actions of the thymus glans
Sperm not made until puberty

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18
Q

what is the medical significance

A

normally, sperm external to immune system

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19
Q

what can the blood-testis barrier breakdown

A
  • testicular disease
  • injury or trauma
  • damage during vasectomy or vasectomy reversal
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20
Q

what leads to infertility

A
  1. damage to blood-testis barrier allows sperm or sperm proteins to enter circulation
  2. sperm are recognised as non-self: immune response occurs
  3. anti-sperm AB pass from blood into S.T.
  4. sperm inactivated by AB
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21
Q

what causes the infertility

A

AB is anti-sperm AB made – immune system is able to make AB

If have anti-sperm AB = infertile

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22
Q

what are the consequences of breaking down the blood-testis barrier

A
  • azoospermia or low motile sperm count
  • infertility or reduced fertility
  • ineffective vasectomy reversal, despite reconnected vas deferens
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23
Q

where do trophoblasts invade

A

endometrium – implants

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24
Q

what does trophoblast form

A

placenta, adjacent to maternal capillaires

25
Q

what is the conceptus

A

= zygote –> embryo + placenta
half maternal and half paternal
- contains non-maternal genes and expresses non-maternal antigens

26
Q

what is the maternal immune system to exposed to

A

not exposed directly to fetal T cells, macrophages or other fetal APCs

27
Q

what MHC are expressed in trophoblasts

A 
class I
trophoblast cells expresses monomorphic, species-specific MHC class I antigen
28
Q

what are trophoblasts recognised by

A

maternal immune system, despite presence of paternal antigens

29
Q

what would be the effect if MHC class I not present in trophoblasts

A

trophoblast cells would be attacked by maternal NK cells

30
Q

what is the effect of late MHC class I expression for cattle

A

specific MHC class I expressed in trophoblast cells in last third of pregnancy, so rejection may contribute to parturition

31
Q

what is the effect of trophoblasts not expressing MHC II

A

can’t act as an APC – don’t present fetal antigens to maternal T cells

32
Q

what does the placenta secrete

A

range of hormones and prohormones

33
Q

what does the placenta do

A

disguise self as parasite

34
Q

what is secreted with hormones in placenta

A

secreted with phosphocholine attached to aspartate residues

35
Q

what does phosphocholine used by

A

used by parasitic nematode worms to protect themselves from host immune system

36
Q

what is the placenta hypothesis

A

placental cells cover themselves in phosphocholine and avoid attack by maternal immune cells

37
Q

what are the two local alteration of immune cell activity

A

monocytes

T regs

38
Q

what does implantation require - Local alteration of immune cell activity: monocytes

A

immunologically receptive endometrium

39
Q

what does early deciduum contain

A

contains abundant monocytes (tissue macrophages)

40
Q

what do monocytes secrete

A

interleukins (types 1, 2, 6, 8, 10) and TGF-beta

41
Q

what are monocyte secretions involved in

A

local immune suppression and in parturition

42
Q

what does Prostaglandin E2 do in Local alteration of immune cell activity: monocytes

A

Endometrium has abundant NK (CD56+) cells, but these are non-cytotoxic, probably due to inhibition by PGE2

43
Q

what happens if Treg contacts antigen

A

If Treg contacts the antigen = proliferate and generate lots

T cell presence major event for downregulation

44
Q

what are memory regulatory T cells specific for

A

specific to paternal antigen, already exist in maternal circulation

45
Q

what antigen does the fetus express

A

paternal

46
Q

what can rapid proliferation of antigen-specific regulatory T cells explain

A
  • may explain reduced incidence of pre-eclampsia in second and subsequent pregnancies
  • tolerance of paternal antigen
47
Q

what do the high numbers of regulatory T cells may explain

A

why autoimmune diseases (e.g. arthritis) are often ameliorated temporarily during pregnancy

48
Q

trophoblast invasion for pig placenta

A

complex for AB to pass

49
Q

trophoblast invasion for ruminants

A

not too easy

50
Q

trophoblast invasion for carnivores

A

simpler as closer

51
Q

trophoblast invasion for primates and rodents

A

easy

52
Q

what can the fetus receive from mother

A

IgG

53
Q

what is rhesus antigen

A

proteins expressed exclusively on surface of erythrocytes

54
Q

what is rhesus antigen for

A

Used for blood grouping (in addition to A, B, O)

55
Q

what do individuals express - rhesus

A

Individuals either express antigen (Rh+) or do not (Rh-)

56
Q

how is rhesus determined

A

Rh+ or Rh- refers to the presence or absence of D antigen

57
Q

does rhesus matter

A

yes if mother has anti-Rh IgG, can cross placenta

if fetus Rh- is fatal

58
Q

what is anti-IgG

A
  • removes any fetal RBCs from mother’s circulation

- prevents mother from developing immune reaction to Rh

Principles of Immunology (13 decks)

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