Lectin-Induced Immunoregulations in Ovine Placenta.

IIGLESIAS MM; RABINOVICH GA; SOTOMAYOR CE; WOLFENSTEIN-TODEL C

Electronic Lectin Journal: Lectins, Biology, Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry

Thorkilds, Denmark

Año: 1998 vol. 12 p. 96 - 96

paradox about pregnancy is that the placenta, a semi-allograft of fetal tissue, avoids maternal immune rejection (1). Its importance is underscored by its location in the maternal-fetal interface, and it appears to act as a protection shield for the fetus. Fetal trophoblasts use several mechanisms to subvert normal maternal immune response. These include: a) selective expression of immune antigens critical to alloreactivity, such as expression of HLA-G by cytotrophoblasts, b) impaired responses to immune-activating cytokines present in placental tissue and c) secretion of factors which may suppress local immune responsiveness (2). Evidently, there is a bidirectional interaction between the maternal immune system and the feto-placental unit during pregnancy, with the placenta acting, not only as a sieve or a transport system, but also as an important source of immunomodulatory substances, such as Th2-cytokines (3-4), TGF- (5) and hormones (6). Recently, several carbohydrate-binding pr