We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Pregnancy immunogenetics: NK cell education in the womb?
- Authors
Parham, Peter; Guethlein, Lisbeth A
- Abstract
During embryo implantation and initiation of pregnancy, uterine NK (uNK) cells engage invasive fetal trophoblasts to remodel vessels that conduct blood to the placenta. This partnership, involving uNK cell receptors that recognize HLA-C ligands on trophoblasts, varies the course of human pregnancy because the genes for both receptors and ligands are extraordinarily diverse. Several pregnancy disorders are attributed to insufficient trophoblast invasion and the limitation it imposes on human reproduction. Previously, a particular combination of fetal HLA-C and maternal inhibitory uNK cell receptor was associated with predisposition for preeclampsia. In this issue of the JCI, Hiby and colleagues extend this correlation to recurrent miscarriage and fetal growth restriction, revealing the common mechanism underlying these common pregnancy syndromes. Equally important, they show that mothers with an activating receptor of similar specificity to the inhibitory receptor are less likely to suffer disordered pregnancy.
- Publication
The Journal of clinical investigation, 2010, Vol 120, Issue 11, p3801
- ISSN
1558-8238
- Publication type
Journal Article
- DOI
10.1172/JCI44559