Abstract
The normal and remarkable ability of the semiallogeneic conceptus to evade maternal immune rejection responses throughout the gestation of human pregnancy highlights a particular immunological paradox. A central role has clearly emerged over the past decade for trophoblastic cells, the separate populations of which form the continuous sites in extraembryonic tissues of the fetal cellular contact with the maternal host (9,10,13). Both passive and active mechanisms are now known to contribute to this unique and successful example of transplantation required for mammalian viviparity (14). This article aims to identify these mechanisms effective in early pregnancy and to comment on abnormal situations that may lead to pregnancy interruption following natural or induced disturbance to normal maternal-fetal immunological interplay.
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Johnson, P.M. (1988). Maternal-Placental Interactions in Early Human Pregnancy. In: Talwar, G.P. (eds) Contraception Research for Today and the Nineties. Progress in Vaccinology, vol 1. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-3746-4_13
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-3746-4_13
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-8331-7
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