Abstract
In 1953 Medawar pointed out that survival of the genetically disparate (allogeneic) mammalian conceptus contradicts the laws of tissue transplantation. Rapid T cell-induced rejection of all allogeneic concepti occurred when pregnant mice were treated with a pharmacologic inhibitor of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), a tryptophan-catabolizing enzyme expressed by trophoblasts and macrophages. Thus, by catabolizing tryptophan, the mammalian conceptus suppresses T cell activity and defends itself against rejection.
Publication types
-
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
-
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
-
Animals
-
Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
-
Female
-
Fetus / immunology*
-
Genes, MHC Class I
-
Genes, RAG-1
-
H-2 Antigens / genetics
-
Humans
-
Immune Tolerance*
-
Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase
-
Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / physiology
-
Male
-
Mice
-
Mice, Inbred C57BL
-
Mice, Inbred CBA
-
Placenta / enzymology
-
Pregnancy
-
T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
-
T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
-
Transgenes
-
Trophoblasts / enzymology*
-
Tryptophan / analogs & derivatives
-
Tryptophan / metabolism*
-
Tryptophan / pharmacology
-
Tryptophan Oxygenase / antagonists & inhibitors
-
Tryptophan Oxygenase / metabolism*
Substances
-
Enzyme Inhibitors
-
H-2 Antigens
-
H-2Kb protein, mouse
-
Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase
-
tryptophan methyl ester
-
Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor
-
Tryptophan
-
Tryptophan Oxygenase