Diclaimer: This is not written by blog author but
rather taken from: Lilla Tamasi, Ildiko´ Horvath, Aniko Bohacs et al, " Asthma in
pregnancy e Immunological changes and clinical management", Respiratory
Medicine (2011) 105, 159-164, Elsevier. This note is not for the commercial
use and mainly for educational purposes.
Pregnancy is characterized by a physiological
immunosuppression, an immunological tolerance that protects the fetus from
maternal immune response against paternal antigens expressed by the fetus.
Physiological pregnancy has been described as a
Th2-dominated state, and current studies show that a trimester dependent,
pregnancy-induced increase in regulatory T cell (Tregs) number has a key role
in the maintenance of maternal tolerance to paternal antigens during pregnancy,
exerting an inhibition on the activation of effector T lymphocytes and NK
cells.
Diminished numbers of Tregs in pregnancy were
associated with immunological rejection of the fetus as well as preeclampsia
and low fetal birth weight.
Of note, Tregs exert inhibitory effects on natural
killer lymphocytes responsible for protection against viruses that may
contribute to increased susceptibility to viral infections (e.g. influenza)
during pregnancy.
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