What's On?
November 10, 2007 : Placenta 'fools body's defences'
The placenta acts like a parasite to avoid attack by a mother's immune system, researchers have discovered.
A University of Reading team found it employs a cloaking device very similar to that used by parasitic worms.
They hope the finding will aid a greater understanding of recurrent miscarriages, and the potentially dangerous condition pre-eclampsia.
Mimicking this method of avoiding immune rejection may also provide ways to tackle conditions like arthritis.
BBC
