The Maternal Anti-fetal Immune Response & Role of Microchimerism in Preeclamsia

描述(由申请人提供)：免疫系统阻止对自身的反应；当这一点失败时，就会导致自身免疫性疾病。在怀孕期间，免疫系统还保护胎儿免受母亲免疫系统的影响。当母亲患上先兆子痫时，她的免疫系统过度活跃。研究表明，与正常妊娠相比，她的细胞对胎儿细胞的反应更强。这可能代表着对胎儿的“排斥”。有两种免疫细胞在防止对自身和胎儿的反应方面特别重要。我们建议在先兆子痫中评估这些细胞的数量和功能。如果得到证实，这些细胞的问题可能是治疗的目标。此外，妇女和胎儿之间的细胞交换是怀孕的正常部分，有助于免疫系统在怀孕期间和以后的生活中保持耐受性。其他研究的目的是了解这种细胞交换如何影响怀孕结果。 公共卫生相关性：拟议的研究试图了解为什么先兆子痫--一种妊娠特有的疾病--会发生。子痫前期是全球妇女及其子女死亡和患病的主要原因之一。了解导致先兆子痫的因素可能会导致治疗或预防其发生的新策略。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The immune system prevents reactivity against oneself; when this fails, autoimmune disease results. In pregnancy, the immune system also protects the fetus from the mother's immune system. When a mother develops preeclampsia, her immune system is overly active. Studies have shown that her cells react to her fetus's cells more than in normal pregnancies. This may represent "rejection" of the fetus. Two types of immune cells are especially important in preventing reactions against oneself and the fetus. We propose to evaluate these cells; both number and function, in preeclampsia. If confirmed, problems with these cells may be targets for treatment. In addition, cells exchanged between a woman and her fetus, which is a normal part of pregnancy, contribute to the ability of the immune system to maintain tolerance during pregnancy and later in life. Additional studies aim to understand how this exchange of cells influences pregnancy outcomes. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The proposed studies seek to understand why preeclampsia, a disease unique to pregnancy, develops. Preeclampsia is one of the leading causes of death and disease for women and their children globally. Understanding factors that lead to preeclampsia may lead to new strategies to treat or prevent its occurrence.