Horita Hiroyuki, Kuroda Etsushi, Hachisuga Tooru
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan.
J UOEH. 2007 Sep 1;29(3):291-302. doi: 10.7888/juoeh.29.291.
The starting point of reproductive immunology is the understanding of the immunological mechanism for maintenance of pregnancy; why the fetus, which is a semi-allograft for the mother, is not rejected by the maternal immune system. Since Medawar pointed out this immunological contradiction in 1953, many investigators have addressed this question. As a result, we are coming to understand that not only a mere immunological tolerance but also immunotrophism, by which the immune system recognizes the fetal antigen actively, is important for the formation and maintenance of pregnancy. In addition, we are also coming to understand the importance of cytokines such as LIF and the cytokine environment of Th2 dominant. However, the cellular and microbiological mechanisms of these cytokines in the reproductive phenomenon are not well known. It is considered that the understanding of these mechanisms is useful for the clinical application to infertility or habitual abortion.
生殖免疫学的出发点是对维持妊娠的免疫机制的理解；即为何对于母亲而言作为半同种异体移植物的胎儿不会被母体免疫系统排斥。自1953年梅达沃指出这一免疫矛盾以来，许多研究者都探讨了这个问题。结果，我们逐渐认识到，对于妊娠的形成和维持而言，不仅单纯的免疫耐受很重要，免疫系统主动识别胎儿抗原的免疫营养作用同样重要。此外，我们也逐渐认识到诸如白血病抑制因子（LIF）等细胞因子以及Th2主导的细胞因子环境的重要性。然而，这些细胞因子在生殖现象中的细胞和微生物学机制尚不清楚。人们认为，对这些机制的理解将有助于在不孕症或习惯性流产的临床应用。
