Maternal Thymus Adaptations and Hormone Regulation During Pregnancy.

The thymus is necessary for the development of T lymphocytes and central tolerance, and adaptations in the maternal thymus are required during pregnancy. In the present paper, maternal thymic cellular anatomy, T-cell development in the thymus, and related progress are reviewed. In addition, the recent progress in maternal thymic adaptations during pregnancy is discussed, including adaptations in thymic cellular anatomy, T-cell development, and immune-related cytokines. Finally, the latest information about hormones that regulate thymic immunology during pregnancy is summarized. In summary, there are many factors, including a lot of hormones, which are involved in maternal thymic immunological adaptations during pregnancy, and may be used to prevent pregnancy-related thymic diseases and preterm birth.