B cell responses to the placenta and fetus Review


Author: Rizzuto, G.
Review Title: B cell responses to the placenta and fetus
Abstract: Pregnancy has fascinated immunologists ever since Peter Medawar’s observation that reproduction runs contrary to the founding tenets of immunology. During healthy pregnancy, maternal B cells interact with antigens of the foreign conceptus (placenta and fetus) yet do not elicit rejection. Instead, robust and redundant fetomaternal tolerance pathways generally prevent maternal B cells and antibodies from harming the placenta and fetus. Fetomaternal tolerance is not absolute, and unfortunately there exist several pregnancy complications that arise from breaks therein. Here, important historic and recent developments in the field of fetomaternal tolerance pertaining to maternal B cells and antibodies are reviewed. General rules from which to conceptualize humoral tolerance to the placenta and fetus are proposed. Significant but underexplored ideas are highlighted and topics for future research are suggested, findings from which are predicted to provide insight into the fundamental nature of tolerance and bolster efforts to combat immune-mediated pregnancy complications. Copyright © 2025 by the author(s).
Keywords: controlled study; review; animal; animals; b lymphocyte; b-lymphocytes; immunological tolerance; immunology; immune tolerance; glycosylation; pregnancy; fetus; antibodies; b cells; therapy; placenta; trophoblast; pregnancy outcome; prevention; complication; pregnancy complication; glycosylated protein; immunologist; maternal-fetal exchange; humans; human; female; fetomaternal transfusion; adverse pregnancy outcomes; fetomaternal tolerance
Journal Title: Annual Review of Pathology: Mechanisms of Disease
Volume: 20
ISSN: 1553-4006
Publisher: Annual Reviews  
Date Published: 2025-01-01
Start Page: 33
End Page: 58
Language: English
DOI: 10.1146/annurev-pathmechdis-111523-023459
PUBMED: 39264989
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: Review -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Gabrielle A Rizzuto
    31 Rizzuto