The fetus as an allograft: Immunobiologic role of human trophoblasts for fetal survival

Elevated IL‐6 in Midtrimester Amniotic Fluid Is Involved with the Onset of Preeclampsia

“…Abnormal feto-maternal immune interaction triggered by maternal recognition of fetal alloantigens has been considered as a factor in such defective placentation.". 6 To elucidate the role of cytokines in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia, we conducted a case-control study comparing cytokine levels in midtrimester amniotic fluid from pregnancies that had resulted in a normal course and appropriate for gestational age births and from pregnancies that later had severe preeclampsia develop. We further examined the effects of cytokines on cellular thrombomodulin levels, a key substance in the coagulation system, using a cell culture of decidual cells and trophoblasts.…”