The PD-1/PD-L1 Checkpoint, Patterns in Preeclampsia Pathogenesis

Eerelman, Marloes Susan (2024) The PD-1/PD-L1 Checkpoint, Patterns in Preeclampsia Pathogenesis. Bachelor's Thesis, Biology.

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Abstract

Programmed cell death protein PD-1 and its ligand PD-L1 perform an inhibitory checkpoint function in the adaptive immune response. Their function as a gatekeeper between tolerance and resistance makes them appropriate drug targets for a class of cancer drugs known as immune checkpoint blockers (ICB). The balance between tolerance and resistance is particularly relevant in pregnancy. The maternal immune system needs to tolerate the foetal allograft while simultaneously providing resistance to pathogens and neoplasms. The PD1/PD-L1 axis is considered to be an essential mechanism in the maintenance of this maternal-foetal tolerance. During normal pregnancy PD1 is increased in the uteroplacental interphase. This is thought to drive the formation of Tregs specific to paternal antigens on the foetal allograft resulting in increased tolerance. Preeclampsia is a pregnancy complication involving an overactive immune response to the foetal allograft. The pathogenesis of preeclampsia is to date not fully understood. Recent studies have found alterations in PD-1 and PD-L1 signalling in pregnant patients with preeclampsia, pointing to a possible role of this mechanism in the development of the disease. In this review, we will discuss these new findings in the context of the PD1/PD-L1 mechanism in healthy pregnancy and the maternal-foetal tolerance.

Item Type:	Thesis (Bachelor's Thesis)
Supervisor name:	Bogaart, G. van den
Degree programme:	Biology
Thesis type:	Bachelor's Thesis
Language:	English
Date Deposited:	23 Jul 2024 14:20
Last Modified:	23 Jul 2024 14:20
URI:	https://fse.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/33637

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