A role for glycoconjugates in human development: the human feto-embryonic defence system hypothesis

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Abstract
The mechanisms underlying the protection of the human embryo/fetus from the meternla immune response are poorly understood. Substantial evidence indicates that carbohydrate recognition plays a promary role in the sequestration of leukocytes during inflammatory processes, lumphocyte homing, and initial gamete binding. Our previous studies suggest a possible convergence inthe types of carbohydrate sequences recognized furing initial human gamete binding and immune/inflammatory cell inter-actions. Our more recent findings indicate that oligasacch-arrides participating in suchprocesses are also associated with soluble glycoconjugates found in the humanplacenta, amniotic fluid, and decidua. We theorize that such glycocon-jugates amy abrogaste the maternal immune/inflammatory response tby blocking the primary adhesice interactions requieed for the expression of such activities. Foreign embryonic cells amay also be protected by surface expression of oligosaccharide sequences that suppress immune effector cell action n a manner not dependent upon classicla major histocompatibility (MHC) recognition. Gklycoconjugates expressing selectin ligands amy also manifest a potent contraceptive effect that amy also be beneficial for both the mother anf the developing embryo/9 fetus. This hypothesis provides a preliminary frame work for undestanding how temporally and sapatially restricted immunosupressive effects could be expressed in utero that protect the human embryo/fetus during this period of human development.

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