New insights into maternal-fetal interactions at implantation.

The immunotrophic theory was enunciated by Tom Wegmann. Since then, the involvement of cytokines in implantation and materno-fetal tolerance has emerged as a central topic in reproductive immunology. This brief survey covers the historical background leading to the specification of the crucial role of cytokines at the feto-maternal interface, and the present known patterns of their function.

A brief review of recent data on some cytokine expressions at the materno-foetal interface which might challenge the classical Th1/Th2 dichotomy.

Focussing attention on cytokines at the materno-foetal interface represents one of the major advances made in the field. This owes much to the visionary views of Tom Wegmann, and to the changes brought about in the field by immunotrophism and Th1/Th2 paradigms. We review these briefly and also point out some emerging problems.