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Th1/Th2 Balance of the Implantation Site in Humans

  • Chapter
Immunology of Pregnancy

Part of the book series: Medical Intelligence Unit ((MIUN))

Abstract

Successful embryo implantation requires the synchronization of embryo development and uterine preparation. The embryo must have developed to the blastocyst stage and the endometrium must be in a receptive phase. Wilcox et al1 have estimated that 65% of conceptions end in unrecognized losses. These failures can be divided into failure to implant (20%), initial apposition but no adhesion or invasion (28%), and failure to develop immediately after implantation (17%). After implantation, approximately 15% of human conceptions end in a clinically detected spontaneous abortion. Furthermore, approximately 31% of pregnancies are lost after detection using sensitive assays for the beta subunit of human chorion gonadotropin (β-hCG). Therefore, implantation failure and pregnancy loss are the most common complications of pregnancy. Understanding the molecular factors involved in each phase of implantation and early pregnancy is critical to understanding the mechanism controlling reproduction.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Sugitani Toyama, Japan

    Shigeru Saito, Satomi Miyazaki & Yasushi Sasaki

Authors
  1. Shigeru Saito
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  2. Satomi Miyazaki
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  3. Yasushi Sasaki
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Immunology Unit, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA

    Gil Mor M.D., Ph.D.

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Saito, S., Miyazaki, S., Sasaki, Y. (2006). Th1/Th2 Balance of the Implantation Site in Humans. In: Mor, G. (eds) Immunology of Pregnancy. Medical Intelligence Unit. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-34944-8_4

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