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Review
. 2016 Sep 15:14:11.
doi: 10.1186/s12948-016-0048-x. eCollection 2016.

How pregnancy can affect autoimmune diseases progression?

Marie-Pierre Piccinni  1 , Letizia Lombardelli  1 , Federica Logiodice  1 , Ornela Kullolli  1 , Paola Parronchi  1 , Sergio Romagnani  1
Affiliations
Review

How pregnancy can affect autoimmune diseases progression?

Marie-Pierre Piccinni et al. Clin Mol Allergy. .

Abstract

Autoimmune disorders are characterized by tissue damage, caused by self-reactivity of different effectors mechanisms of the immune system, namely antibodies and T cells. Their occurrence may be associated with genetic and/or environmental predisposition and to some extent, have implications for fertility and obstetrics. The relationship between autoimmunity and reproduction is bidirectional. This review only addresses the impact of pregnancy on autoimmune diseases and not the influence of autoimmunity on pregnancy development. Th17/Th1-type cells are aggressive and pathogenic in many autoimmune disorders and inflammatory diseases. The immunology of pregnancy underlies the role of Th2-type cytokines to maintain the tolerance of the mother towards the fetal semi-allograft. Non-specific factors, including hormonal changes, favor a switch to Th2-type cytokine profile. In pregnancy Th2, Th17/Th2 and Treg cells accumulate in the decidua but may also be present in the mother's circulation and can regulate autoimmune responses influencing the progression of autoimmune diseases.

Keywords: Abortion; Allograft; Autoimmunity; T helper cells; Tfh pregnancy; Th1; Th17; Th2; Th22.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Hormone-controlled T cell responses influence the progression of autoimmune diseases: progesterone and estrogens inducing Th2-type response and decreasing Th1/Th17 response influence the improvement and the worsening of Th1/Th17-type autoimmune diseases, and Th2-type autoimmune diseases, respectively
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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