Immunology of the placenta and pregnancy Flashcards
When does the fetus start producing IgM?
At 11 weeks
Which immunoglobulin can pass the placenta?
IgG (monomer)
Which immunoglobulin is transmitted in breast milk?
IgA (dimer)
Which Major Histocompatibility complex is expressed in the extravillous cytotrophoblast?
HLA-G
Which MHC class 1 antigens are not expressed on the placenta?
HLA-A, B, C (classical MHC class 1 antigens that present cytostolic antigens to cytotoxic cells
How does expression of specific MHC class 1 proteins on the extravillous trophoblast regulate immunity during pregnancy?
HLA-G is expressed which downregulats natural killer activity
whereas HLA-A,B and C are not expressed and therefore cytotoxic T cell activity is not stimulated
Which MHC class is present on antigen presenting cells?
MHC class II
What is the role of classical MHC class 1?
HLA-A-B-C are present on cells and present antigens to cytotoxic T cells
What happens to NK cell activity in pregnancy?
It decreases
What happens to Th2 cell activity in pregnancy?
It increases (SLE worsens)
What happens to Th1 cell activity in pregnancy?
It decreases (rheumatoid arthritis improves)
What type of immune response do Th1 cells stimulate?
Cell-mediated
What type of immune response do Th2 cells stimulate?
Humoral
