Neuroimmune-Endocrine Interactions during Early Pregnancy in an Autoimmune Context: Focus on Macrophage Activation

Vol. 15, No. 1, 2008

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Paper

Neuroimmune-Endocrine Interactions during Early Pregnancy in an Autoimmune Context: Focus on Macrophage Activation
Luciana Larocca^a, Rosanna Ramhorst^a, Valeria Roca^a, Mario Calafat^a, Julieta Aisemberg^b, Ana Franchi^b, Claudia Pérez Leirós^a

^aDepartamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales y
^bCentro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFYBO), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Address of Corresponding Author

Neuroimmunomodulation 2008;15:84-90 (DOI: 10.1159/000135628)

Key Words

Pregnancy
Autoimmune diseases, chronic
Neuroimmune regulation
Macrophages

Abstract

Neuroimmune-endocrine interactions seem to be central to the dialogue between the mother and the growing embryo during normal pregnancy. A proinflammatory Th1 microenvironment appears to be associated with embryo implantation but an excess of these cytokines may be deleterious. When normal gestation is subjected to stressful stimuli as those provided by a chronic inflammatory milieu, the activation profile of T cells and macrophages may be temporarily changed. Although much evidence supports the protective role of pregnancy in Th1 autoimmune diseases, the comprehension of the maternofetal interaction in an inflammatory context may serve to get more insight into pregnancy failures. Macrophages integrate multiple inputs and signals of neuroimmune-endocrine systems and they appear as major participants in either embryo implantation or loss. Changes at the macrophage level during gestation might help to understand their regulatory role in embryo implantation as well as to disclose their local and systemic pathogenic potential.

Author Contacts

Prof. Claudia Pérez Leirós, PhD
Ciudad Universitaria
Pab. II, 4° floor
1428 Buenos Aires (Argentina)
Tel./Fax +54 11 4576 3342, E-Mail cpleiros@qb.fcen.uba.ar

Article Information

Ana Franchi and Claudia Pérez Leirós share senior authorship.

Published online: July 29, 2008
Number of Print Pages : 7
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 1, Number of References : 51

Medline Abstract (ID 18667804)

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