Neuroimmune-endocrine interactions during early pregnancy in an autoimmune context: focus on macrophage activation

LUCIANA LAROCCA; ROSANNA RAMHORST; VALERIA ROCA; MARIO CALAFAT; JULIETA AISEMBERG; ANA FRANCHI; CLAUDIA PEREZ LEIROS

NEUROIMMUNOMODULATION.

Año: 2008 p. 84 - 90

1021-7401

Neuroimmune-endocrine interactions seem to be central to the dialogue between the mother and the growing embryo during normal pregnancy. A pro-inflammatory 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 support the protective role of pregnancy on Th1 autoimmune diseases, the comprehension of the materno-fetal 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 and loss. Changes at the macrophage level during gestation might help to understand their regulatory role on embryo implantation as well as to disclose their local and systemic pathogenic potential.