Editorial Board
(Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology)
Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology - April 1, 2015 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research
Preeclampsia in autologous and oocyte donation pregnancy: Is there a different pathophysiology?
Oocyte donation (OD) as a method of assisted reproductive technology was introduced in 1984 (Lutjen et al., 1984). It enables women with premature ovarian failure or other causes of reproductive failure to conceive, although it is accompanied by an increase in early and late obstetrical problems (van der Hoorn et al., 2010). Compared with spontaneous and in vitro fertilisation (IVF) pregnancies, OD pregnancies are associated with a higher risk of pregnancy-induced hypertension, caesarean section deliveries and bleeding complications during pregnancy and postpartum (Sheffer-Mimouni et al., 2002;Soderstrom-Anttila et al., 19...
Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology - March 30, 2015 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Lisa E.E.L.O. Lashley, Aletta Buurma, Godelieve M.J.S. Swings, Michael Eikmans, Jacqueline D.H. Anholts, Jaap A. Bakker, Frans H.J. Claas Source Type: research
Serum tumor necrosis factor-α level and uterine artery Doppler indices at 11–13 weeks’ gestation for preeclampsia screening in low-risk pregnancies: A prospective observational study
Preeclampsia is a unique human pregnancy disorder associated with significant maternal, perinatal mortality, and morbidity. It affects about 6–8% of pregnancies and accounts for 15% of maternal mortality in the United States (National High Blood Pressure Education Programme Working Group on High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy, 2000). (Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology)
Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology - March 22, 2015 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Mostafa Fouad Gomaa, Ahmed Hamdy Naguib, Khaled Hassan Swedan, Samia Salah Abdellatif Source Type: research
Maternal Serum Progesterone-Induced Blocking Factor (PIBF) in the Prediction of Preterm Birth
Preterm birth is the leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide, and is the most important challenge to modern obstetrics (Romero et al., 2013). Yet, standard prenatal care does not include reliable methods of predicting preterm birth (Saling, 2012). Some unexplained preterm deliveries may be attributable to a deleterious immune response of the mother toward the fetus (Hudic et al., 2009). A growing body of evidence suggests that progesterone might play a role in establishing an adequate immune environment during pregnancy (Szekeres-Bartho et al., 1985). (Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology)
Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology - March 21, 2015 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Igor Hudić, Babill Stray-Pedersen, Julia Szekeres-Bartho, Zlatan Fatušić, Larisa Dizdarević– Hudić, Vajdana Tomić, Beata Polgar, Bahrudin Hadžiefendić, Jasenko Fatušić Source Type: research
Immunology in Reproduction
Medawar in 1953 – by raising the question “why is the semiallogeneic fetus protected from rejection by the maternal immune system?” – initiated the field of reproductive immunology. If classical rules of transplantation immunity applied to pregnancy, the fetus ought to be rejected. Yet demonstration of anti-fetal, anti-placental and anti-paternal antibodies in sera of women with successful pregnancies (Billington, 1992) showed that though maternal recognition of fetal antigens clearly takes place, it does not compromise pregnancy. (Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology)
Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology - March 19, 2015 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Julia Szekeres-Bartho, Udo R. Markert, Marigoula Varla-Leftherioti Tags: Editorial Source Type: research
Reproduction: A key to survival of mankind
Medawar in 1953 - by raising the question “why is the semiallogeneic fetus protected from rejection by the maternal immune system?”–initiated the field of reproductive immunology. If classical rules of transplantation immunity applied to pregnancy, the fetus ought to be rejected. Yet demonstration of anti-fetal, anti-placental and anti-paternal antibodies in sera of women with successful pregnancies (Billington, 1992) showed that though maternal recognition of fetal antigens clearly takes place, it does not compromise pregnancy. (Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology)
Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology - March 19, 2015 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Julia Szekeres-Bartho, Udo R. Markert, Marigoula Varla-Leftherioti Source Type: research
Stimulation of the JAK/STAT pathway by LIF and OSM in the human granulosa cell line COV434
Granulosa cells compose a layer between theca cells and the oocyte within the ovarian follicle. They play a key role in the folliculogenesis process, particularly with regard to the survival and development of competent mature oocytes in addition to the synthesis of steroid hormones. Although primary human granulosa cells can be isolated from follicular fluid aspirated from follicles of patients undergoing in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI), the limitations of working with these are obvious. (Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology)
Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology - March 17, 2015 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Jana Pastuschek, Jenny Poetzsch, Diana M. Morales-Prieto, Ekkehard Schleußner, Udo R. Markert, Georgi Georgiev Source Type: research
Only humans have human placentas: molecular differences between mice and humans
The mouse is the most frequently used animal model. Originally, the main reasons for this choice were not the similarity to humans, but the fact that mice are small, have a large litter size and short generation times, all features that are very practical for laboratory work. However, in recent years, the value of animal models in general and the mouse model in particular has been questioned more and more as genomic data on the one hand and experimental outcomes on the other hand have revealed marked differences between humans and all other mammals. (Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology)
Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology - March 14, 2015 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: André Schmidt, Diana M. Morales-Prieto, Jana Pastuschek, Karolin Fröhlich, Udo R. Markert Source Type: research
seropositivity and pregnancy-related diseases: a prospective cohort study
Pre-eclampsia (PE), fetal growth restriction (FGR), preterm premature rupture of membranes (pPROM), and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are serious pregnancy-related disorders that have adverse effects on both maternal and fetal safety. A reduction in maternal mortality attributable to an unfavorable pregnancy outcome has been observed in developed countries. However, perinatal mortality, perinatal and long-term morbidity, in addition to neurological sequelae due to abnormal fetal growth and/or preterm delivery, remain high. (Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology)
Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology - March 10, 2015 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Simona Cardaropoli, Domenica Giuffrida, Annalisa Piazzese, Tullia Todros Source Type: research
Helicobacter pylori seropositivity and pregnancy-related diseases: a prospective cohort study
Pre-eclampsia (PE), fetal growth restriction (FGR), preterm premature rupture of membranes (pPROM), and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are serious pregnancy-related disorders that have adverse effects on both maternal and fetal safety. A reduction in maternal mortality attributable to an unfavorable pregnancy outcome has been observed in developed countries. However, perinatal mortality, perinatal and long-term morbidity, in addition to neurological sequelae due to abnormal fetal growth and/or preterm delivery, remain high. (Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology)
Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology - March 10, 2015 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Simona Cardaropoli, Domenica Giuffrida, Annalisa Piazzese, Tullia Todros Source Type: research
Paternal antigen-specific proliferating regulatory T cells are increased in uterine-draining lymph nodes just before implantation and in pregnant uterus just after implantation by seminal plasma-priming in allogeneic mouse pregnancy
A fetus is a semi-allograft to the maternal immune system. During pregnancy, maternal T-cell tolerance against paternal allo-antigens is exhibited (Tafuri et al., 1995), so that natural allografted fetuses are not rejected by the maternal host. Regulatory T (Treg) cells play a central role in the induction and maintenance of tolerance. They control alloantigen-specific immune responsiveness (Sakaguchi et al., 1995) and express transcription factor Foxp3 as a master regulatory gene (Hori et al., 2003). (Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology)
Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology - March 10, 2015 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Tomoko Shima, Kumiko Inada, Akitoshi Nakashima, Akemi Ushijima, Mika Ito, Osamu Yoshino, Shigeru Saito Source Type: research
Cytokines in the male reproductive tract and their role in infertility disorders
The nature, origin, and role of cytokines in the male reproductive tract are still under investigation. On the one hand, they are intrinsically involved in normal reproductive physiology, and in this respect, cytokines constitute natural components of the seminal plasma. On the other hand, cytokine local or systemic perturbations underline the pathophysiology of sperm function, and in a number of pathological conditions cytokines can appear in large concentrations in semen. A variety of cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors were shown to be present in human semen, such as: interleukins (IL-1α and -1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-...
Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology - February 28, 2015 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Monika Fraczek, Maciej Kurpisz Source Type: research
The role of apoptosis in human embryo implantation
The process of embryo attachment and invasion through the endometrial epithelial cells and subsequent implantation into the decidualized endometrial stroma is the groundbreaking step for the establishment of a successful pregnancy. Necessary prerequisites are a receptive endometrium, a good-quality embryo and a well-orchestrated molecular dialogue between embryo and maternal endometrium. The embryo–maternal dialogue is conducted via a wide scope of factors, including secreted cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors in addition to the expression of corresponding receptors and co-receptors. (Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology)
Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology - February 28, 2015 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Sarah J. Boeddeker, Alexandra P. Hess Source Type: research
Decidual cytokines and pregnancy complications: focus on spontaneous miscarriage
Several pathological conditions of pregnancy, including pre-eclampsia (PE), fetal growth restriction (FGR) and miscarriage, are associated with deficient invasion of extravillous trophoblast (EVT) cells into the decidua and myometrium in addition to incomplete remodelling of the uterine spiral arteries. EVT invasion and remodelling of the uterine spiral arteries are highly complex processes that require the dynamic interplay of many different biological signals from different cellular sources, including the decidua. (Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology)
Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology - February 28, 2015 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Gendie E. Lash, Jan Ernerudh Source Type: research
The immunomodulating effect of seminal plasma on T cells
During pregnancy the maternal immune system has to tolerate the presence of the semi-allogeneic foetus. Allorecognition takes place at the site of embryo implantation, where trophoblast cells invade and are confronted with maternal PBMCs. (Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology)
Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology - February 25, 2015 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: T. Meuleman, G. Snaterse, E. van Beelen, J.D.H. Anholts, G.S.K. Pilgram, L.A.J. van der Westerlaken, M. Eikmans, F.H.J. Claas Source Type: research
