I don't know if there are any biologists here but I suddenly came up with the question "If a donor organ is rejected by the recipients body's imune system how come the same does'nt happen with an embryo during a pregnancy?"
I'm not an expert, but my understanding is that the placental barrier protects the fetus from the mother's immune system. Contrary to popular belief, they don't share a cardiovascular system.
Quote from: Gumba Masta on December 03, 2010, 05:14:51 PM
I don't know if there are any biologists here but I suddenly came up with the question "If a donor organ is rejected by the recipients body's imune system how come the same does'nt happen with an embryo during a pregnancy?"
Asked my mother, who's been in neonatal care for about 30 years. Text message form, so forgive the format.
"That is one of life's miracles - immune system during pregnancy is somewhat suppressed. There is some suspicion that some habitual aborters r actually having rxn to father/fetus HLA - human leukogenic antigen."
I assume, by habitual aborters, she means people who have had multiple miscarriages. That's sometimes referred to as a spontaneous abortion.
EDIT: Sorry, human leukocyte antigen.
Immune suppressants are employed to protect the fetus. I read some scientists were looking into using it as a remedy for athritis (to stop the immune system from attacking your joints)
God is in to special pleading, that's all.