The effect of human placenta cytotrophoblast cells on the maturation and T cell stimulating ability of dendritic cells in vitro.

The success of pregnancy depends upon regulatory mechanisms that allow the fetus to survive and develop to term in the uterus, despite maternal immune cells' awareness of paternal alloantigens. At least some of these specific mechanisms are mediated by the effect of fetal trophoblast cells. In the present study we examine the effect of human placental cytotrophoblast cells (CTCs) on the maturation of dendritic cells (DCs) in vitro.