Feto-maternal biology and ethics of human society
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BioMed Central
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Feto-maternal biology and ethics of human society Luana Paulesu*1, Francesca Ietta1 and Felice Petraglia2 Address: 1Department of Physiology, Division of Immunoendocrinology and Reproductive Physiology, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy and 2Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy Email: Luana Paulesu* - [email protected]; Francesca Ietta - [email protected]; Felice Petraglia - [email protected] * Corresponding author
Published: 18 October 2005 Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology 2005, 3:55
doi:10.1186/1477-7827-3-55
Received: 05 May 2005 Accepted: 18 October 2005
This article is available from: http://www.rbej.com/content/3/1/55 © 2005 Paulesu et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract The growing interest in human reproduction and the identity of the embryo have prompted us to bring some considerations to the attention of scientists. In particular, we focus on the interactive relationship between the embryo and the mother starting from the earliest stages of development. Principles governing the acceptance and growth of the embryo in the uterus may represent a model for mutual tolerance and peaceful co-existence in human society.
The fetus as an allograft The embryo is a semi-allograft in the maternal organism because half of its genetic material comes from the father. However, instead of being rejected by the maternal immune system, it is tolerated and develops in the uterus [1]. During early embryogenesis, the trophoblast of the external layer of the morula-blastocyst makes direct contact with the uterine wall (blastocyst implantation). In human pregnancy, the trophoblast invades the uterine mucosa and vessels, establishing very intimate contact with the mother (hemochorial placenta). Therefore, the trophoblast and maternal uterus, including immune and nonimmune cells of the mucosa and vessels, form the fetomaternal interface, in which tolerance mechanisms are active [2].
Feto-maternal dialogue Ever since Sir Peter Medawar brought the topic of survival of the semi-allogenic fetus in the maternal uterus to the attention of scientists, various studies have sought to throw light on the biochemical and molecular mechanisms that permit this apparent immunological paradox
[3,4]. A key role has been attributed to the secretion of a broad array of soluble molecules with autocrine/paracrine action, including growth factors, cytokines and hormones [5]. These substances are produced at the feto-maternal interface by both embryonic and maternal tissues, and they act on specific membrane receptors expressed by complementary tissues [6]. Thus, mother and embryo interact via specific tissues (trophoblast and uterus) in a reciprocal exchange of
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