Abstract
A study of the fundamental biology of the maternal-fetal interface reveals the complex interactions among multiple cell types and regulatory factors necessary to support a successful pregnancy. Cells of decidua and trophoblast lineages play central roles in creating the maternal-fetal interface and are sources of regulatory factors that can determine the quality and success of pregnancy. The regulatory factors considered here are major placental histocompatibility complex proteins, pregnancy-specific regulatory factors for uterine inflammatory cells, and hormone-controlled placental multidrug-resistant transport systems. Potential targets are discussed and presented as areas where researchers may identify novel pharmacological and immunological strategies that eventually will extend to the clinic to improve the quality and success of pregnancy.
Footnotes
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The studies in the laboratory of Dr. Audus were supported by a grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA N01DA-4-7405). We also acknowledge the support of Corning Costar Corporation for support of the Cellular and Molecular Biopharmaceutics Handling Laboratory. The studies in the laboratory of Dr. Soares were supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (HD20676, HD37123, HD40413, HD33994, HD02528). The studies in the laboratory of Dr. Hunt were supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (HD24212, HD29156, HD26429), a CONRAD Twinning Grant, the Kansas U54 Reproductive Sciences Center (HD33994), and the Kansas Mental Retardation Research Center (HD02528).
- Abbreviations:
- HLA
- human leukocyte antigen
- MHC
- major histocompatibility complex
- NK
- natural killer
- β2m
- β2-microglobulin
- PRL
- prolactin
- CG
- chorionic gonadotropin
- PL
- placental lactogen
- IFN
- interferon
- MDR
- multidrug-resistant gene product
- Pgp
- P-glycoprotein
- LRP
- lung resistance protein
- BCRP/MXR/ABCP breast cancer-resistant protein
- MRP, multidrug resistance-associated protein
- Received November 15, 2001.
- Accepted January 9, 2002.
- The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
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