American Journal of Reproductive Immunology 

About: American Journal of Reproductive Immunology is an academic journal. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Pregnancy & Immune system. It has an ISSN identifier of 1046-7408. Over the lifetime, 3817 publications have been published receiving 109083 citations.

The Immune System in Pregnancy: A Unique Complexity

Abstract: Placental immune response and its tropism for specific viruses and pathogens affect the outcome of the pregnant woman's susceptibility to and severity of certain infectious diseases. The generalization of pregnancy as a condition of immune suppression or increased risk is misleading and prevents the determination of adequate guidelines for treating pregnant women during pandemics. There is a need to evaluate the interaction of each specific pathogen with the fetal/placental unit and its responses to design the adequate prophylaxis or therapy. The complexity of the immunology of pregnancy and the focus, for many years, on the concept of immunology of pregnancy as an organ transplantation have complicated the field and delayed the development of new guidelines with clinical implications that could help to answer these and other relevant questions. Our challenge as scientists and clinicians interested in the field of reproductive immunology is to evaluate many of the 'classical concepts' to define new approaches for a better understanding of the immunology of pregnancy that will benefit mothers and fetuses in different clinical scenarios.

Th1/Th2/Th17 and Regulatory T-Cell Paradigm in Pregnancy

Abstract: T-helper (Th) cells play a central role in modulating immune responses. The Th1/Th2 paradigm has now developed into the new Th1/Th2/Th17 paradigm. In addition to effector cells, Th cells are regulated by regulatory T (Treg) cells. Their capacity to produce cytokines is suppressed by immunoregulatory cytokines such as transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta and interleukin (IL)-10 or by cell-to-cell interaction. Here, we will review the immunological environment in normal pregnancy and complicated pregnancy, such as implantation failure, abortion, preterm labor, and preeclampsia from the viewpoint of the new Th1/Th2/Th17 and Treg paradigms.

Clinical relevance of oxidative stress in male factor infertility: an update.

Abstract: Male factor has been considered a major contributory factor to infertility. Along with the conventional causes for male infertility such as varicocele, cryptorchidism, infections, obstructive lesions, cystic fibrosis, trauma, and tumors, a new, yet important cause has been identified: oxidative stress. Oxidative stress (OS) is a result of the imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidants in the body, which can lead to sperm damage, deformity and eventually male infertility. This involves peroxidative damage to sperm membrane and DNA fragmentation at both nuclear and mitochondrial levels. OS has been implicated as the major etiological factor leading to sperm DNA damage. OS-induced DNA damage can lead to abnormalities in the offspring including childhood cancer and achondroplasia. In this article, we discuss the need of ROS in normal sperm physiology, the mechanism of production of ROS and its pathophysiology in relation to male reproductive system. The benefits of incorporating antioxidants in clinical and experimental settings have been enumerated. We also highlight the emerging concept of utilizing OS as a method of contraception and the potential problems associated with it.

An international symposium

Abstract: s should clearly state the purpose, brief statement of procedure, results and conclusions. Please include your name, full address and topic on all submissions. At least one author of each abstract should register for the conference. All accepted abstracts will be published as symposium proceedings. Additionally, commended abstracts may be published in a journal after they are expanded to a manuscript followed by extensive reviewing. The language of the conference will be English.

Immunology of Pre-Eclampsia

Abstract: Pre-eclampsia develops in stages, only the last being the clinical illness This is generated by a non-specific, systemic (vascular), inflammatory response, secondary to placental oxidative stress and not by reactivity to fetal alloantigens However, maternal adaptation to fetal (paternal alloantigens) is crucial in the earlier stages A pre-conceptual phase involves maternal tolerization to paternal antigens by seminal plasma After conception, regulatory T cells, interacting with indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, together with decidual NK cell recognition of fetal HLA-C on extravillous trophoblast may facilitate placental growth by immunoregulation Complete failure of this mechanism would cause miscarriage, while partial failure would cause poor placentation and dysfunctional uteroplacental perfusion The first pregnancy preponderance and partner specificity of pre-eclampsia can be explained by this model For the first time, the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia can be related to defined immune mechanisms that are appropriate to the fetomaternal frontier Now, the challenge is to prove the detail