Lecture 31 - Pregnancy

Question 1

What cells are used in immunologic tolerance

Answer 1

• tregs
• CD4, CD25, CTLA-4, Foxp3
• increase throughout pregnancy
• maintaining tolerance to the fetus

Question 2

How are tregs activated

Answer 2

• fetal antigens cause activation of immune response and suppresion of the activation of the immune system allowing for successful placentation
• exposure to antigens from sperm, seminal plasma and conceptus

Question 3

What are the benefits of sperm/seminal plasma

Answer 3

• less sexual cohabitation prior to conception
• less use of oral contraceptives
• more preeclampsia

Question 4

When are tregs decreased

Answer 4

• spontaneous abortion
• infertility
• preeclampsia

Question 5

What is HLA-G

Answer 5

• expression restricted to placental cells
• inhibitory ligand for the receptor found on all NK cells
• shuts off cytotoxic effects while producing proangiogenic factors important for uterine remodelling
• pregnancy disorders are associated with reduced HLA-G expression

Question 6

can dNK cells cause damage

Answer 6

• freshly isolated decidual NK cells have reduced cytotoxic activity
• however continued in vitro culture of decifual NK cells helps them regain their cytotoxic activity