Split immunological tolerance to trophoblast.
Abstract: Split immunological tolerance refers to states in which an individual is capable of mounting certain types of immune responses to a particular antigenic challenge, but is tolerant of the same antigen in other compartments of the immune system. This concept is applicable to the immunological relationship between mother and fetus, and particularly relevant in equine pregnancy. In pregnant mares, antibody responses to paternal foreign Major Histocompatibility Complex class I antigens are robust, while anti-paternal cytotoxic T cell responses are diminished compared to those mounted by non-pregnant mares. Here, we compared the distribution of the major lymphocyte subsets, the percentage of lymphocytes expressing Interferon Gamma (IFNG) and Interleukin 4 (IL4) and the level of expression of the immunoregulatory transcription factor FOXP3 between pregnant and non-pregnant mares, and between peripheral blood and the endometrium during pregnancy. In a cohort of mares in which peripheral blood lymphocytes were tested during early pregnancy and in the non-pregnant state, there were only slight changes observed during pregnancy. In contrast, comparison of peripheral blood lymphocytes with lymphocytes isolated from the endometrial cups of pregnant mares revealed striking differences in lymphocyte sub-populations. The endometrial cups contained higher numbers of IFNG+ lymphocytes, and lower numbers of lymphocytes expressing IL4. The endometrial cup lymphocytes also had higher numbers of FOXP3+ cells compared to peripheral blood lymphocytes. Taken together, these results strengthen the evidence for a state of split tolerance to trophoblast, and furthermore define sharp differences in immune reactivity during equine pregnancy between peripheral blood lymphocytes and lymphocytes at the maternal-fetal interface.
Publication Date: 2009-10-31 PubMed ID: 19876828PubMed Central: PMC2879498DOI: 10.1387/ijdb.082795adGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
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- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research paper delves into the study of split immunological tolerance to trophoblasts, particularly in pregnant horses or mares. It uncovers how pregnant horses can have strong immune responses to certain foreign antigens, yet show tolerance toward the same antigens in other aspects. By comparing the lymphocyte distribution and expression in pregnant and non-pregnant horses, contrasting findings were discovered, suggesting a state of split tolerance and significant differences in immune reactivity during pregnancy.
Details of the Experiment
- The study focused on how a pregnant mare’s immune system responds to paternal major histocompatibility complex class I antigens. It discovered that while antibody responses were strong, the anti-paternal cytotoxic T cell responses were comparatively weaker.
- Researchers compared the major lymphocyte subsets, the percentage of lymphocytes expressing Interferon Gamma (IFNG) and Interleukin 4 (IL4), and the level of expression of the immunoregulatory transcription factor FOXP3 between pregnant and non-pregnant mares.
- The comparison was also done between peripheral blood and the endometrium or the lining of the uterus of a mare during pregnancy.
- Lymphocytes were tested during early pregnancy and in the non-pregnant state for the comparisons.
Major Discoveries of the Study
- There were only small changes observed during pregnancy when the peripheral blood lymphocytes were tested during early pregnancy and in a non-pregnant state.
- A significant contrast was observed when researchers compared peripheral blood lymphocytes with the ones isolated from the endometrial cups of pregnant mares. There were striking differences in lymphocyte sub-populations in this scenario.
- The endometrial cups contained higher numbers of IFNG+ lymphocytes, and lower numbers of lymphocytes expressing IL4.
- Furthermore, the endometrial cup lymphocytes also had higher numbers of FOXP3+ cells compared to peripheral blood lymphocytes.
Implications of the Research
- The results of this research strongly evidence a state of split tolerance to trophoblast in equine pregnancy.
- It also highlights that there are distinct differences in immune reactivity during equine pregnancy between peripheral blood lymphocytes and lymphocytes at the maternal-fetal interface.
Cite This Article
APA
de Mestre A, Noronha L, Wagner B, Antczak DF.
(2009).
Split immunological tolerance to trophoblast.
Int J Dev Biol, 54(2-3), 445-455.
https://doi.org/10.1387/ijdb.082795ad Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Basic Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, Royal College Street, London, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Antibody Formation / immunology
- Endometrium / immunology
- Endometrium / metabolism
- Female
- Flow Cytometry
- Forkhead Transcription Factors / genetics
- Forkhead Transcription Factors / metabolism
- Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / immunology
- Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / metabolism
- Horses
- Immune Tolerance / immunology
- Interferon-gamma / metabolism
- Interleukin-4 / metabolism
- Organ Specificity / immunology
- Placenta / immunology
- Pregnancy
- RNA, Messenger / genetics
- RNA, Messenger / metabolism
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- T-Lymphocytes / immunology
- T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
- Trophoblasts / immunology
Grant Funding
- R01 HD049545-05 / NICHD NIH HHS
- R01 HD049545-01 / NICHD NIH HHS
- R01 HD049545 / NICHD NIH HHS
- R01-HD049545 / NICHD NIH HHS
- R01 HD049545-04 / NICHD NIH HHS
- R01 HD049545-02 / NICHD NIH HHS
- R01 HD049545-03 / NICHD NIH HHS
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