Naslov
Immunomodulatory analogies between trophoblastic and cancer cells and their hosts

Autori
Coulam, Carolyn B. ; Rukavina, Daniel

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Poglavlja u knjigama, znanstveni

Knjiga
Cancer and Pregnancy

Urednik/ci
Barnea, Eytan R.; Jauniaux, Eric; Schwartz, Peter E.

Izdavač
Springer

Grad
London : Delhi

Godina
2001

Raspon stranica
190-208

ISBN
1-85233-374-X

Ključne riječi
-

Sažetak
Cytokines control cell growth. The mechanisms by which trophoblastic cells proliferate and invade the endometrium at the time of implantation are analogous to the processes involved in cancer invasion and metastasis. This analogy seems appropriate in that the biologic phenomenon of trophoblastic invasiveness is a reflection of two traits common to cancer cell growth: high cell proliferation and lack of cell contact inhibition. Other analogies between cancer and pregnancy include the ability of both to evade immune rejection as well as cytokine production and usage. Successful mammalian pregnancy is dependent upon maternal immunologic recognition and upon the release and actions of an array of cytokines. The trophoblast seems to be a key cell in the development and maintenance of this complex interplay between fetal and maternal systems. A major conceptual advance in cancer research was made when it was demonstrated that cancers do provoke a specific immune response in the organism within which they appear. More recent data have documented similar immunologic responses of the mother toward her pregnancy. Thus, trophoblastic and cancer cells employ the same protective mechanisms from their host to allow their survival. In spite of these analogies, there is a fundamental difference between cancer and pregnancy. The process of implantation and placentation consists of trophoblastic cell proliferation and invasion that is rigidly controlled by cytokines. In contrast, cancer represents a state in which normal cell growth patterns become altered such that the cells can replicate continuously. Thus the preeminent biologic difference between placentation and cancer is the loss of growth factors, or by mutating growth factor receptors so that these receptors give a positive signal even when no growth factor is bound to the receptor. Thus all growth is under cytokine control. Control of cellular proliferation is demonstrated at the time of implantation. Undestanding the cytokines responsible for control of proliferation and invasion will offer new approaches to cancer therapy and treatment of recurrent pregnancy loss.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Temeljne medicinske znanosti, Kliničke medicinske znanosti

POVEZANOST RADA