Immunological adaptations of pregnancy (Th2 shift, hormone changes)
Core concept
- Pregnancy requires immune tolerance of a semi-allogeneic fetus without global immunosuppression (the mother remains able to fight infection)
- Th2-skewed shift at the maternal-fetal interface - favours humoral immunity, dampens the Th1/cell-mediated responses that would attack fetal (paternal) antigens
- Mediated by progesterone, oestrogen, placental hCG; regulatory T cells (Tregs) expand to maintain tolerance to paternal antigens
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