Immunology of Gametes and Embryo Implantation (Chemical Immunology and Allergy, Vol. 88)

Infertility is an increasing problem in many societies. The success rate of assisted reproduction is still below 30 per cent, although the treatments and techniques have improved continuously. An important but often underestimated aspect of fertility and infertility is the immunology of gametes and the early embryo. Sperm is a potential target for autoimmunity in men and alloimmunity in women, but physiologically, such immunoreactions do not occur. Although the preimplantation embryo is semiallogeneic to the mother, no destructive reaction occurs but her uterus prepares a unique, finely balanced immunological environment around the implantation site, which is indispensable for successful early pregnancy. This book provides an overview of the current knowledge of physiological and pathological immune reactions which favor or disturb fertility. Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 6 Preface......Page 12 Introduction......Page 14 Immune Cells in the Testis......Page 15 Possible Mechanisms of Testicular Immunoregulation......Page 16 The Dual Role of Cytokines in the Testis......Page 17 Experimental Orchitis......Page 19 Inflammation of the Human Testis......Page 20 Conclusion and Outlook......Page 22 References......Page 23 Introduction......Page 27 Tests for ASA......Page 28 Analysis of Cognate Antigens of ASA and Influence on Sperm Function......Page 29 Agglutination......Page 30 Motility......Page 31 Acrosome Reaction......Page 32 Zona Binding and Zona Penetration......Page 34 Pronucleus Formation......Page 35 References......Page 36 Introduction......Page 40 Characterization of Monoclonal Antibodies Showing SI Activity......Page 41 Biological Function of CD52......Page 43 Conclusion......Page 44 References......Page 45 Introduction......Page 47 The (Still Mysterious!) Role of the Uterus......Page 48 Embryonic Cytokines and Implantation?......Page 49 Maintenance of the Corpus luteum in Ovine and Bovine Species: The tau-Interferons......Page 51 The Uterine Side......Page 53 LIF......Page 54 IL-6......Page 57 Th3 Cytokines: TGF-beta......Page 58 TNF......Page 59 New Cytokines: Vascularization and New Role for NKs......Page 60 References......Page 62 Introduction......Page 77 Menstrual Cycle and Immune Responses......Page 79 Peri- and Postimplantation Endometrium......Page 81 Cytokine Regulation in Women with Infertility......Page 82 Pregnancy Losses and Cytokine Networks......Page 84 Influence of Th1 and Th2 Cytokine Gene Polymorphisms in Pregnancy Loss......Page 86 Conclusion......Page 87 References......Page 88 Introduction......Page 93 Heparin-Binding Epidermal Growth Factor......Page 95 Leukemia Inhibitory Factor......Page 96 Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor......Page 98 Tumor Necrosis Factor......Page 99 Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor......Page 100 Granulosa Colony-Stimulating Factor......Page 101 Stem Cell Factor......Page 102 References......Page 103 Introduction......Page 111 Targets for Immunological Intervention in the Female Reproductive System......Page 112 Active Immunization with ZP Glycoproteins......Page 113 Recombinant ZP Glycoproteins......Page 114 ZP Glycoprotein-Based DNA Vaccine......Page 115 ZP Glycoprotein-Based Synthetic Peptides......Page 116 Immunological Intervention at Postfertilization Stage......Page 117 Concluding Comments......Page 118 References......Page 119 Introduction......Page 122 Interferon-tau......Page 124 The Uterine Serpins......Page 125 Relevance to Other Species......Page 126 References......Page 127 Introduction......Page 130 Studies of IvIg Treatment of RM......Page 131 Patient Subsets and Treatment Protocols May Determine Outcome of IvIg Studies......Page 132 Patient Subsets......Page 133 Treatment Protocols......Page 135 Negative Aspects of IvIg Use in RM......Page 136 Conclusions......Page 138 References......Page 139 Introduction......Page 141 Symptomatology......Page 143 Predisposing Factors......Page 144 Allergens in Seminal Plasma......Page 145 Diagnosis......Page 146 Therapeutic Options......Page 148 References......Page 149 Introduction......Page 152 A Brief Historical Background......Page 153 APA sy and aPLs in Reproductive Failure......Page 154 Reproductive Failure and Neuroendocrine-Immunological Association......Page 156 Conclusion......Page 159 References......Page 160 Introduction......Page 163 Redundant Loop Oxidation/Inflammation and Autoimmunity......Page 164 Oxidative Stress......Page 166 Autoimmunity......Page 167 Gametes......Page 169 Preimplantation Embryo and Endometrium......Page 170 Concluding Remarks......Page 171 References......Page 172 Introduction......Page 176 Adhesion Molecules......Page 179 Proteases......Page 182 Hormones and Cytokines......Page 183 Transcription Factors......Page 185 References......Page 187 Introduction: Trophoblast and Tumor as Models for Comparative Investigation of Signal Transduction......Page 194 The Pathway......Page 195 Stats and Trophoblast Invasiveness......Page 198 Ras Protein-MAPK Signal-Transducing Pathway......Page 199 MAPK and Reproduction......Page 200 MAPK-Stat Interactions......Page 204 Conclusions......Page 206 References......Page 207 Author Index......Page 213 C......Page 214 I......Page 215 M......Page 216 T......Page 217 Z......Page 218 Infertility is an increasing problem in many societies. The success rate of assisted reproduction is still below 30%, although the treatments and techniques have improved continuously. An important but often underestimated aspect of fertility and infertility is the immunology of gametes and the early embryo. Sperm is a potential target for autoimmunity in men and alloimmunity in women, but physiologically, such immunoreactions do not occur. Although the preimplantation embryo is semiallogeneic to the mother, no destructive reaction occurs but her uterus prepares a unique, finely balanced immunological environment around the implantation site, which is indispensable for successful early pregnancy. This book provides an overview of the current knowledge of physiological and pathological immune reactions which favor or disturb fertility. The regulation of embryo implantation and trophoblast invasion through cytokines, growth factors and other pregnancy-related immuno­regulatory molecules is described in detail.Autoimmunity and allergy are presented as possible causes of reproductive failure. With contributions by leading international groups this volume provides a valuable introduction for those readers who are not yet familiar with the immunology of reproduction while it also serves to update specialists on the most recent findings in the field. "This book provides an overview of the current knowledge of physiological and pathological immune reactions which favor or disturb fertility. The regulation of embryo implantation and trophoblast invasion through cytokines, growth factors and other pregnancy-related immunoregulatory molecules is described in detail. Autoimmunity and allergy are presented as possible causes of reproductive failure."--Jacket Annotation This volume presents the most recent knowledge about physiological and pathological immune reactions which favor or disturb fertility. It is an introduction for those readers who are not yet familiar with this field of immunology and updates the knowledge of specialists