Munn D H, Zhou M, Attwood J T, Bondarev I, Conway S J, Marshall B, Brown C, Mellor A L
Program in Molecular Immunology, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA 30912, USA.
Science. 1998 Aug 21;281(5380):1191-3. doi: 10.1126/science.281.5380.1191.
In 1953 Medawar pointed out that survival of the genetically disparate (allogeneic) mammalian conceptus contradicts the laws of tissue transplantation. Rapid T cell-induced rejection of all allogeneic concepti occurred when pregnant mice were treated with a pharmacologic inhibitor of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), a tryptophan-catabolizing enzyme expressed by trophoblasts and macrophages. Thus, by catabolizing tryptophan, the mammalian conceptus suppresses T cell activity and defends itself against rejection.
1953年，梅达沃指出，基因不同的（同种异体）哺乳动物胚胎的存活与组织移植规律相矛盾。当用吲哚胺2,3-双加氧酶（IDO）的药理抑制剂处理怀孕小鼠时，T细胞会迅速诱导对所有同种异体胚胎的排斥，IDO是一种由滋养层细胞和巨噬细胞表达的色氨酸分解代谢酶。因此，通过分解色氨酸，哺乳动物胚胎抑制T细胞活性并保护自身免受排斥。
