Influence of microchimeric cells on tumor growth

Microchimerism is caused by the presence of few genetically different cells in the human body. Microchimerism can arise, for example, during pregnancy, during which the bilateral cell migration occurs. The maternal cells that the child acquires during pregnancy and subsequent breastfeeding help to shape its immune system, for example. Blood transfusion or transplantation is another possibility for microchimerism. Microchimeric cells can be stored in an individual's body for decades and can thus also affect their health. These cells have stem cell-like attributes that allow them to incorporate into the damaged tissue. As a result, they can have a positive effect on tissue repair, but they can also cause autoimmune diseases or influence the development or suppression of cancer