Maternal and Fetal Immune Response to In Utero Stem Cell Transplantation

Amir Alhajjat, Aimen F Shaaban*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose of Review: In utero hematopoietic cellular transplantation (IUHCT) is a promising intervention for the non-toxic treatment of congenital disease that hinges on the assumption of fetal immunologic immaturity and an inability to reject a hematopoietic allograft. However, clinical IUCHT has failed except in cases where the fetus is severely immunocompromised. The current review examines recent studies of engraftment barriers stemming from either the fetal or maternal immune system. Recent Findings: New reports have illuminated roles for maternal humoral and cellular immunity and fetal innate cellular immunity in the resistance to allogeneic IUHCT. These experimental findings have inspired new approaches to overcome these barriers. Despite these advances, postulates regarding a maternal immune barrier to IUHCT provide an inadequate explanation for the well-documented clinical success only in the treatment of fetal immunodeficiency with normal maternal immunity. Summary: Characterization of the maternal and fetal immune response to allogeneic IUHCT provides new insight into the complexity of prenatal tolerance. Future work in this area should aim to provide a unifying explanation for the observed patterns of success and failure with clinical IUHCT.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)182-187
Number of pages6
JournalCurrent Stem Cell Reports
Volume4
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1 2018

Keywords

  • Fetal immune system
  • IUHCT
  • In utero transplantation
  • Materno-fetal trafficking
  • NK cells
  • Tolerance

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Genetics
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Developmental Biology

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