Biomaterial Database

Does exposure to HLA alloantigens trigger immunoregulatory mechanisms operative in both pregnancy and AIDS? 1989

C Hoff, and R D Peterson

Biometry and Epidemiology, Pacific Northwest Laboratory, Richland, WA 99352.

The complex biological processes responsible for regulating the immune system are presently the subject of considerable interest and study. New insight into this process comes from a variety of observations and it is the purpose of this communication to develop the hypothesis that two seemingly quite disparate observations point to a common biological mechanism bearing on immunoregulation. The observations concern the unique immunologic relationship between mother and fetus and the immunoregulatory abnormalities encountered in HIV-induced acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Exposure to foreign (allo) major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens can potentially occur during pregnancy, the transfusion of blood or blood products, or anal insemination. The hypothesis, in its simplest form, states that such MHC alloantigenic exposure triggers a sequence of immunoregulatory mechanisms resulting in immunosuppression and that this response has evolved in placental mammals as a means of protecting the fetus from maternal immune rejection and promoting optimal fetal development.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007519	Isoantigens	Antigens that exist in alternative (allelic) forms in a single species. When an isoantigen is encountered by species members who lack it, an immune response is induced. Typical isoantigens are the BLOOD GROUP ANTIGENS.	Alloantigens,Alloantigen,Isoantigen
D008431	Maternal-Fetal Exchange	Exchange of substances between the maternal blood and the fetal blood at the PLACENTA via PLACENTAL CIRCULATION. The placental barrier excludes microbial or viral transmission.	Transplacental Exposure,Exchange, Maternal-Fetal,Exposure, Transplacental,Maternal Fetal Exchange
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D011251	Pregnancy Complications, Infectious	The co-occurrence of pregnancy and an INFECTION. The infection may precede or follow FERTILIZATION.	Complications, Infectious Pregnancy,Infectious Pregnancy Complications,Maternal Sepsis,Pregnancy, Infectious Complications,Sepsis during Pregnancy,Sepsis in Pregnancy,Infectious Pregnancy Complication,Pregnancy Complication, Infectious,Sepsis in Pregnancies,Sepsis, Maternal
D005260	Female		Females
D006680	HLA Antigens	Antigens determined by leukocyte loci found on chromosome 6, the major histocompatibility loci in humans. They are polypeptides or glycoproteins found on most nucleated cells and platelets, determine tissue types for transplantation, and are associated with certain diseases.	Human Leukocyte Antigen,Human Leukocyte Antigens,Leukocyte Antigens,HL-A Antigens,Antigen, Human Leukocyte,Antigens, HL-A,Antigens, HLA,Antigens, Human Leukocyte,Antigens, Leukocyte,HL A Antigens,Leukocyte Antigen, Human,Leukocyte Antigens, Human
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000163	Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome	An acquired defect of cellular immunity associated with infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a CD4-positive T-lymphocyte count under 200 cells/microliter or less than 14% of total lymphocytes, and increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections and malignant neoplasms. Clinical manifestations also include emaciation (wasting) and dementia. These elements reflect criteria for AIDS as defined by the CDC in 1993.	AIDS,Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Acquired,Immunologic Deficiency Syndrome, Acquired,Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome,Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome,Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome,Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndromes,Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndromes,Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome, Acquired,Immuno-Deficiency Syndromes, Acquired,Immunodeficiency Syndromes, Acquired,Syndrome, Acquired Immuno-Deficiency,Syndrome, Acquired Immunodeficiency,Syndromes, Acquired Immuno-Deficiency,Syndromes, Acquired Immunodeficiency
D015658	HIV Infections	Includes the spectrum of human immunodeficiency virus infections that range from asymptomatic seropositivity, thru AIDS-related complex (ARC), to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).	HTLV-III Infections,HTLV-III-LAV Infections,T-Lymphotropic Virus Type III Infections, Human,HIV Coinfection,Coinfection, HIV,Coinfections, HIV,HIV Coinfections,HIV Infection,HTLV III Infections,HTLV III LAV Infections,HTLV-III Infection,HTLV-III-LAV Infection,Infection, HIV,Infection, HTLV-III,Infection, HTLV-III-LAV,Infections, HIV,Infections, HTLV-III,Infections, HTLV-III-LAV,T Lymphotropic Virus Type III Infections, Human