An overview of sex and reproductive immunity from an evolutionary/anthropological perspective

Mammalian pregnancy is a curious life phenomenon. Immunologically, the mechanism of pregnancy is difficult to explain because it involves the coexistence of an external foreign body (the embryo) and the host (the mother) for a period of time. How did mammals acquire the ability to become pregnant in...

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Main Authors: Yoshihiko Araki, Hiroshi Yoshitake, Kenji Yamatoya, Hiroshi Fujiwara
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2021-07-01
Series:Immunological Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/25785826.2020.1831219
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author Yoshihiko Araki
Hiroshi Yoshitake
Kenji Yamatoya
Hiroshi Fujiwara
author_facet Yoshihiko Araki
Hiroshi Yoshitake
Kenji Yamatoya
Hiroshi Fujiwara
author_sort Yoshihiko Araki
collection DOAJ
description Mammalian pregnancy is a curious life phenomenon. Immunologically, the mechanism of pregnancy is difficult to explain because it involves the coexistence of an external foreign body (the embryo) and the host (the mother) for a period of time. How did mammals acquire the ability to become pregnant in parallel with altered immunity? Sex in the evolution of life and its impact on anthropology are major topics of discussion. In this paper, we outline (1) sex and evolution in mammals after the advent of our direct ancestors (apes) up to humans (i.e., the Cenozoic Quaternary), including anthropological aspects such as the development of the central nervous system; (2) the development of reproductive immunity during the Paleozoic era, when biodiversity developed explosively (and many sexually reproducing organisms have emerged); and (3) the characteristic reproductive strategies of mammals, including humans with the immunological aspects of viviparity. We present an overview of mammalian reproductive immunity, which is a heretical aspect of immunology.
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spelling doaj.art-aef3678c3e5842519a023107f2abe24d2022-12-21T21:26:08ZengTaylor & Francis GroupImmunological Medicine2578-58262021-07-0144315215810.1080/25785826.2020.18312191831219An overview of sex and reproductive immunity from an evolutionary/anthropological perspectiveYoshihiko Araki0Hiroshi Yoshitake1Kenji Yamatoya2Hiroshi Fujiwara3Institute of Environmental and Gender-specific Medicine, Juntendo University Graduate School of MedicineInstitute of Environmental and Gender-specific Medicine, Juntendo University Graduate School of MedicineInstitute of Environmental and Gender-specific Medicine, Juntendo University Graduate School of MedicineDepartment of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical SciencesMammalian pregnancy is a curious life phenomenon. Immunologically, the mechanism of pregnancy is difficult to explain because it involves the coexistence of an external foreign body (the embryo) and the host (the mother) for a period of time. How did mammals acquire the ability to become pregnant in parallel with altered immunity? Sex in the evolution of life and its impact on anthropology are major topics of discussion. In this paper, we outline (1) sex and evolution in mammals after the advent of our direct ancestors (apes) up to humans (i.e., the Cenozoic Quaternary), including anthropological aspects such as the development of the central nervous system; (2) the development of reproductive immunity during the Paleozoic era, when biodiversity developed explosively (and many sexually reproducing organisms have emerged); and (3) the characteristic reproductive strategies of mammals, including humans with the immunological aspects of viviparity. We present an overview of mammalian reproductive immunity, which is a heretical aspect of immunology.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/25785826.2020.1831219sexevolutionimmune-systemviviparityplacenta
spellingShingle Yoshihiko Araki
Hiroshi Yoshitake
Kenji Yamatoya
Hiroshi Fujiwara
An overview of sex and reproductive immunity from an evolutionary/anthropological perspective
Immunological Medicine
sex
evolution
immune-system
viviparity
placenta
title An overview of sex and reproductive immunity from an evolutionary/anthropological perspective
title_full An overview of sex and reproductive immunity from an evolutionary/anthropological perspective
title_fullStr An overview of sex and reproductive immunity from an evolutionary/anthropological perspective
title_full_unstemmed An overview of sex and reproductive immunity from an evolutionary/anthropological perspective
title_short An overview of sex and reproductive immunity from an evolutionary/anthropological perspective
title_sort overview of sex and reproductive immunity from an evolutionary anthropological perspective
topic sex
evolution
immune-system
viviparity
placenta
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/25785826.2020.1831219
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