Immune interactions at the maternal-fetal interface: a focus on antigen presentation

Am J Reprod Immunol. 2004 Apr;51(4):283-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0897.2004.00157.x.

Abstract

Problems: Viruses and fetuses face similar immunologic challenges. Each must evade immune detection and destruction. The virus must avoid host recognition of intracellular infection; the fetus allogenic recognition. Each has manipulated the process of antigen presentation to allow survival in an immunologic environment otherwise predictably hostile. How have these approaches co-evolved? What can they teach us about viral pathogenesis and immunologic interactions at the maternal-fetal interface?

Method of study: Review of relevant literature.

Results: Special classical and non-classical MHC class I products are spared from downregulation in the placenta and from viral immunoevasive strategies.

Conclusions: Viruses rely upon some of the same strategies to avoid immune detection as do trophoblast cells. In the future, viral infections may prove a useful tool for studies of immunology at the maternal-fetal interface.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antigen Presentation / immunology*
  • Cytomegalovirus / immunology
  • Decidua / cytology
  • Decidua / immunology
  • Female
  • HLA Antigens / immunology
  • HLA Antigens / physiology
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / immunology
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate / immunology
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology
  • Models, Immunological
  • Placenta / cytology
  • Placenta / immunology*
  • Pregnancy
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / physiology
  • Trophoblasts / immunology
  • Trophoblasts / metabolism
  • Trophoblasts / virology
  • Virus Diseases / immunology
  • Viruses / immunology

Substances

  • HLA Antigens
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I