Prevention of Allogeneic Fetal Rejection by Tryptophan Catabolism
David H. Munn(University of Georgia), Min Zhou(University of Georgia), John T. Attwood(University of Georgia), I. E. Bondarev(University of Georgia), Simon J. Conway(University of Georgia), Brendan Marshall(University of Georgia), Corrie C. Brown(University of Georgia), Andrew L. Mellor(University of Georgia)
Cited by 2,578
Abstract
In 1953 Medawar pointed out that survival of the genetically disparate (allogeneic) mammalian conceptus contradicts the laws of tissue transplantation. Rapid T cell-induced rejection of all allogeneic concepti occurred when pregnant mice were treated with a pharmacologic inhibitor of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), a tryptophan-catabolizing enzyme expressed by trophoblasts and macrophages. Thus, by catabolizing tryptophan, the mammalian conceptus suppresses T cell activity and defends itself against rejection.