Human Health Therapeutics, Division of Life Sciences, National Research Council, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
J Reprod Immunol. 2013 Mar;97(1):62-73. doi: 10.1016/j.jri.2012.10.015.
Resistance to infection is the ability of the host to evoke a strong immune response sufficient to eliminate the infectious agent. In contrast, maternal tolerance to the fetus necessitates careful regulation of immune responses. Successful pregnancy requires the maternal host to effectively balance the opposing processes of maternal immune reactivity and tolerance to the fetus. However, this balance can be perturbed by infections which are recognized as the major cause of adverse pregnancy outcome including pre-term labor. Select pathogens also pose a serious threat of severe maternal illness. These include intracellular and chronic pathogens that have evolved immune evasive strategies. Murine models of intracellular bacteria and parasites that mimic pathogenesis of infection in humans have been developed. While human epidemiological studies provide insight into maternal immunity to infection, experimental infection in pregnant mice is a vital tool to unravel the complex molecular mechanisms of placental infection, congenital transmission and maternal illness. We will provide a comprehensive review of the pathogenesis of several infection models in pregnant mice and their clinical relevance. These models have revealed the immunological function of the placenta in responding to, and resisting infection. Murine feto-placental infection provides an effective way to evaluate new intervention strategies for managing infections during pregnancy, adverse fetal outcome and long-term effects on the offspring and mother.
抗感染能力是宿主引发强大免疫反应以消灭病原体的能力。相反，母体对胎儿的耐受性需要对免疫反应进行仔细调节。成功的妊娠需要母体宿主有效平衡母体免疫反应性和对胎儿的耐受性这两个对立的过程。然而，这种平衡可能会被感染打破，感染被认为是导致不良妊娠结局的主要原因，包括早产。某些病原体也严重威胁着产妇的健康。这些病原体包括已进化出免疫逃避策略的细胞内和慢性病原体。已经建立了模拟人类感染发病机制的细胞内细菌和寄生虫的小鼠模型。虽然人类流行病学研究提供了对母体抗感染免疫的深入了解，但在妊娠小鼠中进行实验性感染是揭示胎盘感染、先天性传播和母体疾病复杂分子机制的重要工具。我们将全面回顾几种妊娠小鼠感染模型的发病机制及其临床相关性。这些模型揭示了胎盘在应对和抵抗感染方面的免疫功能。小鼠胎-胎盘感染为评估妊娠期间管理感染、不良胎儿结局以及对后代和母亲的长期影响的新干预策略提供了有效的方法。
