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Regulatory T cells and regulatory natural killer (NK) cells play important roles in feto-maternal tolerance

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Abstract

In the early pregnancy decidua, lymphocytes express some activation markers on their surface, suggesting that maternal lymphocytes are activated and recognize the semiallograftic fetus. Therefore, the immunoregulation system must work to prevent fetus rejection. Recent data showed that parts of the immunoregulation system such as CD4+CD25+ regulatory T (Treg) cells, Th3 cells, Tr1 cells, regulatory NK cells, and a tryptophan-catabolizing enzyme, indolamine 2,3 deoxygenase, play very important roles in the maintenance of pregnancy. Not only Treg cells but also regulatory NK cells may inhibit maternal T cell or NK cell fetal attack.

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Acknowledgment

This research was supported by grants from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan [Grant-in Aid for Scientific Research (B)-17390447 and (C)-18591797, and Grant-in-Aid for Exploratory Research 18659482] and the 21st Century COE Program.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan

    Shigeru Saito, Arihiro Shiozaki, Yasushi Sasaki, Akitoshi Nakashima, Tomoko Shima & Mika Ito

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  1. Shigeru Saito
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Correspondence to Shigeru Saito.

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Saito, S., Shiozaki, A., Sasaki, Y. et al. Regulatory T cells and regulatory natural killer (NK) cells play important roles in feto-maternal tolerance. Semin Immunopathol 29, 115–122 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00281-007-0067-2

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