Journal
TRENDS IN MOLECULAR MEDICINE
Volume 15, Issue 11, Pages 510-518Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2009.09.002
Keywords
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Funding
- Manitoba Health Research Council (MBRC)
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
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The biological concept of microchimerism, the bidirectional trafficking and stable long-term persistence of small numbers of allogeneic (fetal and maternal) cells in a genetically different organ, has gained considerable attention. Microchimerism is a common phenomenon in many species, including humans, and microchimeric cells can modify immunological recognition or tolerance, affect the course and outcome of various diseases and demonstrate stem cell-like or regenerative potential. Here, we review current knowledge of the biology of microchimerism and show how long-term allogeneic coexistence within an organism can impact on existing paradigms in chronic disease, cancer biology, regenerative medicine and fetal-maternal immunology. We discuss diagnostic challenges, clinical applications and future research directions in this exciting and rapidly emerging field of allogeneic fetal-maternal cell exchange.
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