Fas and Fas‐Ligand Are Expressed in the Uteroplacental Unit of First‐Trimester Pregnancy

Abstract

Based on our experimental findings, we speculate that the abundant presence of FasL on trophoblast cells within the maternal decidua may play an important role in the maintenance of immune privilege in the pregnant uterus by endowing fetal trophoblast cells with a defense mechanism against activated maternal leukocytes, whereas in the villous part of the placenta, the Fas FasL system seems to be involved in the regulation of placental growth.