Immunity in pregnancy,
ontogenesis of immunity


Uterine mechanisms of  fetus protection against mother´s immune system
•Most cell does not cross placental barrier.
•No classical HLA- antigens are expressed on trophoblast.
•Non classical HLA-G antigens protect  trophoblast cells from NK cells.  Their presentation of
antigens probably leads to suppression of speciphic immune response.
•CD46 on the surface of trophoblast cleaves C3b.

Maternal mechanisms protection fetus from  the immune system attack
•Mother is in Th2 predominance
•Possible immunosuppressive effects of HCG, high serum levels of progesterone,  alfa-feto protein
•Partial block of lymph nodes draining the uterus
•

Hladiny Ig po porodu



 Immune system in infancy and childhood
•Increased susceptibility to infections diseases.
•Clinical course of infections is usually mild.
•Exception – severe course of infections caused by encapsulated bacteria during first two years.
•Atopic diseases usually begin in early childhood.
•Autoimmune diseases are relatively rare.

Immune system in adulthood
•Infectious diseases are infrequent, but may be severe in course.
•Autoimmune diseases typically begin in early adulthood.
•High prevalence of allergic diseases continues from childhood

Immunity in seniors
•Weak primary immune response, secondary immune response is usually normal.
•Decrease in lymphocytes, mainly CD4+, serum immunoglobulin levels are  usually increased.
•Immune response is generally decreased, clinical symptoms of infection are  milder than in young
persons.
•Diturbed regulation of the immune system leads to frequent occurrence of autoantibodies and
paraproteins, but this does not lead to  clinical diseases.