Immunological Implications of Pregnancy Flashcards
(49 cards)
what can early pregnancy be defined as?
implantation and placentation
what is necessary for successful implantation?
localized inflammatory responses/ acute phase response
what are the acute phase cytokines?
IL-1, IL-8, IL-6, Il-12, TNF, IFN-gamma
what is the purpose of the acute phase cytokines?
they disrupt the mucin barrier of the endometrium and promote adhesion molecule expression
what immune cells are present in the early pregnancy stage?
decidual NKs, macrophages, neutrophils, and decidual dendritic cells
after we attach, we have to go through what stage?
the implantation stage
during the implantation stage, what acute phase cytokines would you expect to see a lot of?
IL-6 and IL-1
what is the role of macrophages during the implantation phase?
they help to sustain the corpus luteum and in the decidua they participate in spiral artery remodeling; they also still provide waste management of cellular debris from invasion of trophoblast
what type of macrophages are found pre-implantation?
MI macrophages- responsible for inflammation
what happens to the macrophages after implantation?
the ratio of M1 macrophages and M2 macrophages is equal
what are the roles of the dDCs during the implantation phase?
they are important for the maintenance of the dTregs, they secrete IL-15, and the promote a Th2 phenotype
what is the role of the dNK cells during implantation?
they directly surround the trophoblasts after implantation and support their development
what are the dNK cells critical for during the implantation phase?
spiral artery development
what type of receptors do the dNK cells have?
inhibitory receptors for HLA-C, E, and G
what do trophoblasts secrete and why?
they secrete cytokines and chemokines for the recruitment of immune cells for “support” and appropriate placentation
what immune cells do the trophoblasts secrete?
dNKcells, M2 macrophages, Treg cells
why are trophoblasts bringing immune cells into the are?
they are bringing them into the area to train them to become suppressor or tolerance cells
what does it mean when it is said that trophoblasts have a unique HLA expression?
it is very specific for the fetal/placental antigen presentation that is going to be doing that low level presentation to mom and periphery throughout gestation; it regulates fetal and placental antigen presentation to immune cells
how do the syncytiotrophoblasts provide protection from pathogens?
they express TLRs; that always express IFN-gamma, which provides antiviral resistance; they have a dense actin cytoskeleton network that helps physically resist invasion by bacteria/viruses
what do STs shed into the maternal circulation and decidua and why?
they shed a variety of extracellular vesicles- it is driving tolerance
what effect does a dramatic increase in the quantity of extracellular vesicles in the peripheral blood of pregnant females have?
pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, and pre-term birth
what chemokines/ cytokines do the extravillous trophoblasts secrete and why?
IL-15, CCL2, TGF-beta, IL-10, abd type I IFNs; for immune cell recruitment and regulation
what are the immune protective functions of EVTs with dNK cells?
they reduce the cytotoxicity of dNK cells while supporting their role in vascular remodeling (through IL-15 and HLA-G)
how do the EVTs support M2 differentiation?
IL-10
