Understanding how the mother's immune system tolerates the fetus during pregnancy
Maternal Central Immune Tolerance in Reproduction
This study is looking at how a mom's immune system learns to accept her baby during pregnancy, focusing on a special protein called Aire that helps with this process, and it aims to understand how hormones affect this and what it means for issues like infertility and growth problems in babies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Michigan State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (East Lansing, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10834025 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates how the maternal immune system adapts to accept the fetus, which has unique proteins that could trigger an immune response. By studying a protein called Aire, which helps the immune system recognize and tolerate these fetal proteins, the research aims to uncover the mechanisms behind successful pregnancies. The team will explore how sex hormones influence Aire's function and its role beyond the immune system in reproduction. This could lead to insights into complications like infertility and fetal growth restrictions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research include pregnant individuals or those planning to conceive, particularly those with a history of fertility issues or pregnancy complications.
Not a fit: Patients who are not pregnant or not planning to conceive may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could improve pregnancy outcomes by identifying ways to enhance maternal immune tolerance, potentially reducing risks of infertility and fetal growth issues.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding immune tolerance in pregnancy, suggesting that this approach could lead to significant advancements in maternal-fetal medicine.
Where this research is happening
East Lansing, United States
- Michigan State University — East Lansing, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Petroff, Margaret G — Michigan State University
- Study coordinator: Petroff, Margaret G
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.