Immunological Tolerance, Pregnancy, and Preeclampsia: The Roles of Semen Microbes and the Father†
Although it is widely considered, in many cases, to involve two separable stages (poor placentation followed by oxidative stress/inflammation), the precise originating causes of preeclampsia (PE) remain elusive. We have previously brought together some of the considerable evidence that a (dormant) m...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2018-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Medicine |
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| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmed.2017.00239/full |
| _version_ | 1818430606133952512 |
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| author | Louise C. Kenny Louise C. Kenny Louise C. Kenny Douglas B. Kell Douglas B. Kell |
| author_facet | Louise C. Kenny Louise C. Kenny Louise C. Kenny Douglas B. Kell Douglas B. Kell |
| author_sort | Louise C. Kenny |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Although it is widely considered, in many cases, to involve two separable stages (poor placentation followed by oxidative stress/inflammation), the precise originating causes of preeclampsia (PE) remain elusive. We have previously brought together some of the considerable evidence that a (dormant) microbial component is commonly a significant part of its etiology. However, apart from recognizing, consistent with this view, that the many inflammatory markers of PE are also increased in infection, we had little to say about immunity, whether innate or adaptive. In addition, we focused on the gut, oral and female urinary tract microbiomes as the main sources of the infection. We here marshall further evidence for an infectious component in PE, focusing on the immunological tolerance characteristic of pregnancy, and the well-established fact that increased exposure to the father’s semen assists this immunological tolerance. As well as these benefits, however, semen is not sterile, microbial tolerance mechanisms may exist, and we also review the evidence that semen may be responsible for inoculating the developing conceptus (and maybe the placenta) with microbes, not all of which are benign. It is suggested that when they are not, this may be a significant cause of PE. A variety of epidemiological and other evidence is entirely consistent with this, not least correlations between semen infection, infertility and PE. Our view also leads to a series of other, testable predictions. Overall, we argue for a significant paternal role in the development of PE through microbial infection of the mother via insemination. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T15:36:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e9b2660838c24da0a54f0964bbddc446 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-858X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T15:36:05Z |
| publishDate | 2018-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-e9b2660838c24da0a54f0964bbddc4462022-12-21T22:55:44ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Medicine2296-858X2018-01-01410.3389/fmed.2017.00239318990Immunological Tolerance, Pregnancy, and Preeclampsia: The Roles of Semen Microbes and the Father†Louise C. Kenny0Louise C. Kenny1Louise C. Kenny2Douglas B. Kell3Douglas B. Kell4The Irish Centre for Fetal and Neonatal Translational Research (INFANT), University College Cork, Cork, IrelandDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University College Cork, Cork, IrelandFaculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United KingdomSchool of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United KingdomThe Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United KingdomAlthough it is widely considered, in many cases, to involve two separable stages (poor placentation followed by oxidative stress/inflammation), the precise originating causes of preeclampsia (PE) remain elusive. We have previously brought together some of the considerable evidence that a (dormant) microbial component is commonly a significant part of its etiology. However, apart from recognizing, consistent with this view, that the many inflammatory markers of PE are also increased in infection, we had little to say about immunity, whether innate or adaptive. In addition, we focused on the gut, oral and female urinary tract microbiomes as the main sources of the infection. We here marshall further evidence for an infectious component in PE, focusing on the immunological tolerance characteristic of pregnancy, and the well-established fact that increased exposure to the father’s semen assists this immunological tolerance. As well as these benefits, however, semen is not sterile, microbial tolerance mechanisms may exist, and we also review the evidence that semen may be responsible for inoculating the developing conceptus (and maybe the placenta) with microbes, not all of which are benign. It is suggested that when they are not, this may be a significant cause of PE. A variety of epidemiological and other evidence is entirely consistent with this, not least correlations between semen infection, infertility and PE. Our view also leads to a series of other, testable predictions. Overall, we argue for a significant paternal role in the development of PE through microbial infection of the mother via insemination.http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmed.2017.00239/fullpreeclampsiaimmunologymicrobesdormancysemeninfection |
| spellingShingle | Louise C. Kenny Louise C. Kenny Louise C. Kenny Douglas B. Kell Douglas B. Kell Immunological Tolerance, Pregnancy, and Preeclampsia: The Roles of Semen Microbes and the Father† Frontiers in Medicine preeclampsia immunology microbes dormancy semen infection |
| title | Immunological Tolerance, Pregnancy, and Preeclampsia: The Roles of Semen Microbes and the Father† |
| title_full | Immunological Tolerance, Pregnancy, and Preeclampsia: The Roles of Semen Microbes and the Father† |
| title_fullStr | Immunological Tolerance, Pregnancy, and Preeclampsia: The Roles of Semen Microbes and the Father† |
| title_full_unstemmed | Immunological Tolerance, Pregnancy, and Preeclampsia: The Roles of Semen Microbes and the Father† |
| title_short | Immunological Tolerance, Pregnancy, and Preeclampsia: The Roles of Semen Microbes and the Father† |
| title_sort | immunological tolerance pregnancy and preeclampsia the roles of semen microbes and the father† |
| topic | preeclampsia immunology microbes dormancy semen infection |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmed.2017.00239/full |
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