Alloreactive fetal T cells promote uterine contractility in preterm labor via IFN-γ and TNF-α.

ABSTRACT: Healthy pregnancy is the most successful form of graft tolerance, whereas preterm labor (PTL) may represent a breakdown in maternal-fetal tolerance. Although maternal immune responses have been implicated in pregnancy complications, fetal immune responses against maternal antigens are often not considered. To examine the fetal immune system in the relevant clinical setting, we analyzed maternal and cord blood in patients with PTL and healthy term controls. We report here that the cord blood of preterm infants has higher amounts of inflammatory cytokines and a greater activation of dendritic cells. Moreover, preterm cord blood is characterized by the presence of a population of central memory cells with a type 1 T helper phenotype, which is absent in term infants, and an increase in materna

SUBMITTER: Frascoli M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6449052 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature