27 May 2026

Photo: CRC1713 / UKE Hamburg

HLA molecules are expressed on a wide range of cells in both the fetus and the pregnant individual, where they play a key role in distinguishing self from non-self antigens. Because fetal HLA molecules can present antigens that may be perceived as foreign by the maternal immune system, this can trigger a maternal immune activation (MIA).

Our group is part of the DFG—funded Collaborative Research Centre CRC1713 “Maternal Immune Activation: Causes and Consequences”, led by Prof. Petra Arck at the UKE. In project A06, we investigate the role of the maternal and fetal HLA genotype in immune tolerance and infectious disease susceptibility during pregnancy.
Doctoral researcher Alexej Sinner wrote a short article for the Claussen—Simon—Stiftung highlighting the scientific background and planned research aims of project A06. The article discusses how immune processes during pregnancy may influence child development and maternal health, and how immunogenetic variation in the HLA region could contribute to these mechanisms.
The article was published by the Claussen—Simon—Stiftung, of which Alexej Sinner is a former scholarship recipient. Read the full article here: “Zwischen Abwehr und Toleranz: Wie Schwangerschaft zum Balanceakt des Immunsystems wird” https://www.claussen-simon-stiftung.de/de/blog/zwischen-abwehr-und-toleranz/).