Additionally, more investigation is needed to define how HSV-2 infection might modulate HIV-1 pathology. Support for this work was provided by the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases (grants NIAID AI060379, AI052731 and AI064520 to DFN and AI64520 to LLL). JDB is supported by

AI-066917 and AI-076014 (NIAID). Additional support was provided by the Brazilian Program for STD and AIDS, Ministry of Health (914/BRA/3014 – UNESCO/Kallas), the São Paulo City Health Department (2004-0·168·922-7/Kallas), Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (04/15 856-9/Kallas), selleck chemicals the John E. Fogarty International Center (D43 TW00003) and the AIDS Research Institute of the AIDS Biology Program at UCSF (grant to DFN). MMS and KIC’s scholarships were supported by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), Brazilian Ministry of Education. LLL is an American Cancer Society

Research Professor. We thank Skip Virgin for helpful discussions. The authors declare no conflict of interest. “
“Citation Petroff MG, Perchellet A. B7 family molecules as regulators of the maternal immune system in pregnancy. Am J Reprod Immunol 2010 Placental and fetal growth and development are associated with chronic exposure of the maternal immune system to fetally derived, paternally inherited antigens. Because maternal lymphocytes are aware of fetal C59 wnt ic50 antigens, active tolerance mechanisms are required Non-specific serine/threonine protein kinase to ensure unperturbed progression of pregnancy and delivery of

a healthy newborn. These mechanisms of tolerance may include deletion, receptor downregulation, and anergy of fetal antigen-specific cells in lymphoid tissues, as well as regulation at the maternal–fetal interface by a variety of locally expressed immunoregulatory molecules. The B7 family of costimulatory molecules comprises one group of immunoregulatory molecules present in the decidua and placenta. B7 family members mediate both inhibitory and stimulatory effects on T-cell activation and effector functions and may play a critical role in maintaining tolerance to the fetus. Here, we review the known functions of the B7 family proteins in pregnancy. Placental and fetal growth and development are associated with chronic exposure of fetally-derived, paternally inherited antigens to the maternal immune system. Based on studies in mice, this exposure to paternal antigens is thought to occur as early as insemination, wanes until establishment of the fully mature placenta, and again becomes robust when the uterine blood supply to the placenta is established.1–3 Once this occurs, the placenta is inundated with maternal blood, and antigen efflux from the fetus persists for the last 1/2 of pregnancy in mice, and 2/3 of pregnancy in women. In women, the continuous shedding of trophoblast cells and other soluble fetal products is thought to be a major source of antigen to maternal immune cells.