Pregnancy and Cytokines, Cytokines and Diseases

Abstract

ABSTRACT Pregnancy is a physiological state designated as the regional immune tolerance of the mother organism against paternal sourced antigens found in embryonic cells. While the paternal heritage makes half of the embryo, mammals bear their embryos in the uterus. There are defined immunological mechanisms for the embryo to survive and develop in the uterus. The mother's immune system must work healthily for the pregnancy to be shaped, continued, and terminated normally. It is a common view valid in all mammals that the cellular immunity reactions are suppressed for the duration of pregnancy, while the humoral immunity continues to operate. At this point, cytokines such as T-regulator (Treg) cells, and the interleukin (IL)-10 they secrete, and tumor growth factors (TGFs) play an essential role. Treg cells are crucial in immune tolerance towards the fetus during pregnancy, especially in T-helper 2 (Th-2) cell polarization. In this re-spect, the negativities that may occur in Treg and Th2 cells, and the cytokines they secrete may lead to various pregnancy pathologies, premature births, and abortions. It is necessary to monitor the activities of these cells and cytokines to be protected from such negativities or to determine the cause of the disorders that may occur.