Prevention of allogeneic fetal rejection by tryptophan catabolism

DH Munn, M Zhou, JT Attwood, I Bondarev, SJ Conway… - Science, 1998 - science.org
DH Munn, M Zhou, JT Attwood, I Bondarev, SJ Conway, B Marshall, C Brown, AL Mellor
Science, 1998science.org
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.
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.
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