“Placental cells can mimic viral attacks to protect the fetus, new research suggests. Through the use of Alu RNA, which is normally suppressed by the body’s cells to avoid damaging immune responses, the placenta is able to trigger a gentle and sustained immune response using interferon lambda. These findings suggest that the placenta has additional protective strategies for the fetus that are independent of the mother’s immune system. The scientists also noted that a similar phenomenon may also occur in neurons, with RNA from different genomic elements forming double bonds and triggering a more damaging immune response. This research provides new insight into how the immune system breaks its own rules, and through this, scientists can better understand what those rules actually are.”
Source: Quanta Magazine (with permission)
2024-01-07 17:53:12
#Pregnancy #Placenta #Manipulates #Immune #System #Protect #Fetus
