Seminars in Fetal & Neonatal Medicine
Volume 11, Issue 5 , Pages 279-295, October 2006

Immunology of normal pregnancy

Division of Maternal–Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Utah Health Sciences, 30 North 1900 East, SOM 2B200, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA

published online 22 June 2006.

Summary 

Since Medawar's initial contemplations in 1953 on the mechanisms of immune evasion allowing for the survival of the allogeneic conceptus in an immunologically competent mother, physicians and immunologists alike have struggled to understand the immunological paradox of pregnancy. Ultimately, our attempts to define the immunology of normal pregnancy have broadened our appreciation of the myriad mechanisms at play that enable the promotion of implantation and maintenance of pregnancy. In this review, we summarise what is known regarding the immunology of normal pregnancy, with special emphasis on the relation to common disorders of pregnancy.

Keywords: Immune response, Pregnancy, Human, Immunology, Cytokines, Leukocytes, Placenta

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PII: S1744-165X(06)00045-X

doi:10.1016/j.siny.2006.04.003

Seminars in Fetal & Neonatal Medicine
Volume 11, Issue 5 , Pages 279-295, October 2006

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