A drug is being developed that prevents premature birth
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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American researchers have found in the body of pregnant women cells that suppress the immune system of the mother to ensure the protection of the fetus.
This finding can help in the development of a drug that will prevent premature birth, and also help to avoid other complications during pregnancy.
Scientists from the Children's Medical Center in Cincinnati found that the immune system of a pregnant woman stimulates the development of cells that do not allow the rejection of fetal tissues - the cells of the fetus being born, recognizing them as alien.
Importantly, T cells, immune suppressor regulators, are preserved after delivery, providing a protective function and for the subsequent reproduction of offspring.
For successful pregnancy it is required that the mother's body can take antigens inherited by the child from the father. These antigens cause the immune response of the maternal organism, because they are recognized as foreign. If the woman re-conceives, the T-cells will give additional protection to the fetus, "remembering" about the previous pregnancy and not allowing the woman's body to tear off the fetal tissues.
"We found that the immune suppressive regulators of CD4 form an immunological memory," commented lead author Singwe Wei.
According to the scientist, this "memorable effect" - there is an explanation of why in subsequent pregnancies there are significantly fewer complications than at the first. This discovery also makes it possible to control the balance between stimulation and suppression of immunity better in order to prevent autoimmune diseases.
A team of scientists has shown that a protective program that is used throughout pregnancy is based on increasing activity or keeping normal T cells that identify fetal antigens.
"With this knowledge, we will burn the development of vaccines that will target immune suppressive T cells. At the moment, drugs are used that are aimed only at activating T cells. A new drug that is capable of inducing expansion or retaining cells that suppress immunity will remove selective reactions undesirable, "says Dr. Wei.
In addition, this discovery will create vaccines against autoimmune diseases, such as type 1 diabetes and idiopathic arthritis, in which the body's immune system attacks healthy tissues.
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