The maternal immune system plays an important role in the establishment of a successful pregnancy. Pregnancy is a unique immunological challenge during which maternal immune system has to tolerate the fetal alloantigen while preserving the ability to fight infections and enviromental pathogens. In mammalian pregnancy this balance is also regulated by the complex cooperation between cytokines. Cytokines are immunoregulatory molecules that are crucial for normal reproductive functions, including implantation, placentation and trophoblast invasion. It is widely proposed that, during pregnancy, Th2 immune response is neccessary for successful pregnancy, whereas a Th1 response is detrimental to fetus. In addition to this, it has been suggested that Th1/Th2 activity balance displays a strong shift towards Th2 activity during the physiological pregnancy. Studies concerning Th1/Th2 balance in physiological and pathological pregnancy have shown that Th1/Th2 cooperation is needed for a successful pregnancy. This review focuses on the potential roles of cytokines during pregnancy and will contribute to the understanding of the roles and mechanisms behind the cytokines that effect physiological and several pathological conditions of pregnancy.
Key words: Pregnancy; Cytokines; Th1/Th2 Cytokines.
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