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Chapter 21 - Fetal Infections: Immune Response to Infections during Fetal Life

from Fetal Infections

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 October 2019

By
Nicolas Dauby  and
Arnaud Marchant
Edited by
Mark D. Kilby ,
Anthony Johnson  and
Dick Oepkes
Mark D. Kilby
Affiliation:
University of Birmingham
Anthony Johnson
Affiliation:
University of Texas Medical School at Houston
Dick Oepkes
Affiliation:
Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum
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Summary

In humans the immune system develops early during fetal life, most immune cells being detectable by mid-gestation. This early developmental process prepares the fetus for the challenge of controlling a large diversity of infectious pathogens at birth while establishing regulated interactions with non-pathogenic commensals. Following congenital infections with viruses, bacteria, or protozoa, the fetal immune system is challenged to generate antimicrobial effector functions. The immune system of the fetus has long been considered as non-reactive or prone to tolerance to foreign antigens. Recent clinical studies have demonstrated that immune effector functions can develop during fetal life. This chapter first provides an overview of the immune system and describes current knowledge of its development during fetal life. The capacity of the fetal immune system to respond to infectious pathogens is then summarized, focusing on the most studied congenital infections.

Type
Chapter
Information
Fetal Therapy
Scientific Basis and Critical Appraisal of Clinical Benefits
 , pp. 215 - 223
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2020

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