Immunology of the Uterine and Vaginal Mucosae

Jordan Z Zhou; Sing Sing Way; Kang Chen

doi:10.1016/j.it.2018.01.007

Immunology of the Uterine and Vaginal Mucosae

Trends Immunol. 2018 Apr;39(4):302-314. doi: 10.1016/j.it.2018.01.007. Epub 2018 Feb 9.

Authors

Jordan Z Zhou¹, Sing Sing Way², Kang Chen³

Affiliations

¹ Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.
² Division of Infectious Disease, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.
³ Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; Jiangsu Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China; Mucosal Immunology Studies Team, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. Electronic address: kang@wayne.edu.

PMID: 29433961
DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2018.01.007

Abstract

Along with the maintenance of symbiotic mutualism with commensal microbes and protection against invasive infections common to all mucosal barrier tissues, female reproductive tissues have additional, unique tasks that include dynamic cyclic cellular turnover in menstruation and immunological tolerance to genetically foreign fetal antigens in pregnancy. Here we review current knowledge on distinct features of the immune cells in female reproductive tissue with regard to antimicrobial host defense and adaptations to accommodate the fetus during pregnancy. Outstanding areas for future research to obtain new functional insights on this enigmatic mucosal barrier are also highlighted.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Anti-Infective Agents / metabolism
Female
Fetus / immunology
Genitalia, Female / physiology*
Humans
Immune Tolerance
Menstruation
Mucous Membrane / immunology*
Pregnancy
Uterus / immunology*
Vagina / immunology*

Substances

Anti-Infective Agents

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

Grants and funding