Regulatory T-cells in pregnancy: Historical perspective, state of the art, and burning questions

Abstract

In this review, we first revisit the original concept of "suppressor T-cells" in pregnancy, put it in a historical perspective, and then highlight the main data that licensed its resurrection and revision into the concept of "regulatory T-cells" (Tregs) in pregnancy. We review the evidence for a major role of Tregs in murine and human pregnancy and discuss Treg interactions with dendritic and uterine natural killer cells, other players of maternal-fetal tolerance. Finally, we highlight what we consider as the most important questions in the field. © 2014 Ruocco, Chaouat, Florez, Bensussan and Klatzmann.