Natural killer cells and T lymphocytes in pregnancy and pre-eclampsia

Although pre-eclampsia (PE), a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy, has significant maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality worldwide, the mechanisms contributing to this disease have not been fully elucidated. Studies in patients and experimental models have shown that changes in the number or function of immune cells of both the adaptive and innate immune systems contribute to the development and pathogenesis of PE. This commentary summarizes our current understanding of the role of the immune system in the pathogenesis of PE, specifically focussing on dysfunction of natural killer (NK) cells and T lymphocyte populations.