Abstract
Conception, pregnancy and delivery are nowaday recognized as an immune phenomena. Both local and systemic immune response is downregulated during these physiological processes to tolerate the fetus as the fetus is displaying the characteristics of semialograft in the context of transplantation immunology.
This tolerance and physiological development of fetus is achieved by the complex changes of immune reactivity during pregnancy. The most important among them is the switch from Th1 reactivity to Th2 polarisation.
The number and activity of Treg T cells are increased. It is not surprise that physiological pregnancy in majority of females suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS) induces remission of the disease as abnormal inflammation in MS patients is Th1 and Th17 T cells regulatory subsets driven.
The physiological delivery could be recognized as the physiological inflammatory reactivity terminating pregnancy. Delivery is followed by the subsequent switch to preconception immune reactivity frequently followed by the exacerbation of MS.
The profound changes in individual immune reactivity are accompanied by the substantial changes in hormonal regulation. Breast feeding is the irreplaceable for optimal and proper development of the baby.
Only breast milk containes the whole spectrum of substances supporting all functions of infant. There are strong clinical data that exclusive breast feeding is beneficial for both baby and mother.
The hormonal changes during breast feeding are positively modulating the inflammation in females with MS.