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Li QH, Zhao QY, Yang WJ, Jiang AF, Ren CE, Meng YH. Beyond Immune Balance: The Pivotal Role of Decidual Regulatory T Cells in Unexplained Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion. J Inflamm Res 2024; 17:2697-2710. [PMID: 38707955 PMCID: PMC11070170 DOI: 10.2147/jir.s459263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) is defined as two or more consecutive pregnancy failures, which brings tremendous stress to women of childbearing age and seriously affects family well-being. However, the reason in about 50% of cases remains unknown and is defined as unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA). The immunological perspective in URSA has attracted widespread attention in recent years. The embryo is regarded as a semi-allogeneic graft to the mother. A successful pregnancy requires transition to an immune environment conducive to embryo survival at the maternal-fetal interface. As an important member of regulatory immunity, regulatory T (Treg) cells play a key role in regulating immune tolerance at the maternal-fetal interface. This review will focus on the phenotypic plasticity and lineage stability of Treg cells to illustrate its relationship with URSA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing-Hui Li
- School of Clinical Medicine, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, 261021, People’s Republic of China
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, 261000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qiu-Yan Zhao
- School of Clinical Medicine, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, 261021, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wei-Jing Yang
- School of Clinical Medicine, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, 261021, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ai-Fang Jiang
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, 261000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chun-E Ren
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, 261000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yu-Han Meng
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, 261000, People’s Republic of China
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2
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Mitchell RA, Ubillos I, Requena P, Campo JJ, Ome-Kaius M, Hanieh S, Umbers A, Samol P, Barrios D, Jiménez A, Bardají A, Mueller I, Menéndez C, Rogerson S, Dobaño C, Moncunill G. Chronic malaria exposure is associated with inhibitory markers on T cells that correlate with atypical memory and marginal zone-like B cells. Clin Exp Immunol 2024; 216:172-191. [PMID: 38387476 PMCID: PMC11036110 DOI: 10.1093/cei/uxae015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Chronic immune activation from persistent malaria infections can induce immunophenotypic changes associated with T-cell exhaustion. However, associations between T and B cells during chronic exposure remain undefined. We analyzed peripheral blood mononuclear cells from malaria-exposed pregnant women from Papua New Guinea and Spanish malaria-naïve individuals using flow cytometry to profile T-cell exhaustion markers phenotypically. T-cell lineage (CD3, CD4, and CD8), inhibitory (PD1, TIM3, LAG3, CTLA4, and 2B4), and senescence (CD28-) markers were assessed. Dimensionality reduction methods revealed increased PD1, TIM3, and LAG3 expression in malaria-exposed individuals. Manual gating confirmed significantly higher frequencies of PD1+CD4+ and CD4+, CD8+, and double-negative (DN) T cells expressing TIM3 in malaria-exposed individuals. Increased frequencies of T cells co-expressing multiple markers were also found in malaria-exposed individuals. T-cell data were analyzed with B-cell populations from a previous study where we reported an alteration of B-cell subsets, including increased frequencies of atypical memory B cells (aMBC) and reduction in marginal zone (MZ-like) B cells during malaria exposure. Frequencies of aMBC subsets and MZ-like B cells expressing CD95+ had significant positive correlations with CD28+PD1+TIM3+CD4+ and DN T cells and CD28+TIM3+2B4+CD8+ T cells. Frequencies of aMBC, known to associate with malaria anemia, were inversely correlated with hemoglobin levels in malaria-exposed women. Similarly, inverse correlations with hemoglobin levels were found for TIM3+CD8+ and CD28+PD1+TIM3+CD4+ T cells. Our findings provide further insights into the effects of chronic malaria exposure on circulating B- and T-cell populations, which could impact immunity and responses to vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert A Mitchell
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Itziar Ubillos
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pilar Requena
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Joseph J Campo
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Antigen Discovery Inc., Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Maria Ome-Kaius
- Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Madang, Papua New Guinea
| | - Sarah Hanieh
- University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Alexandra Umbers
- Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Madang, Papua New Guinea
| | - Paula Samol
- Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Madang, Papua New Guinea
| | - Diana Barrios
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alfons Jiménez
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Consorcio de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Azucena Bardají
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Consorcio de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Ivo Mueller
- Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Madang, Papua New Guinea
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Clara Menéndez
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Consorcio de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Maputo, Mozambique
| | | | - Carlota Dobaño
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gemma Moncunill
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Barcelona, Spain
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Gigase FAJ, Graziani M, Castro J, Lesseur C, Rommel AS, Flores T, Perez-Rodriguez MM, Dolan S, Stone J, Janevic T, Lieb W, Bergink V, de Witte LD. The effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination on Th17 and regulatory T cells in a pregnancy cohort in NYC. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1350288. [PMID: 38504979 PMCID: PMC10948419 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1350288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Disturbances in T-cells, specifically the Th17/Treg balance, have been implicated in adverse pregnancy outcomes. We investigated these two T-cell populations following pre-pregnancy and pregnancy SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccination in 351 participants from a pregnancy cohort in New York City (Generation C; 2020-2022). SARS-CoV-2 infection status was determined via laboratory or medical diagnosis and COVID-19 vaccination status via survey and electronic medical records data. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected at routine prenatal visits throughout gestation (median 108 days; IQR 67-191 days) with repeated measures for 104 participants (29.6%). T-cell populations CD4+/CD3+, Th17/CD4+, Treg/CD4+ and the Th17/Treg ratio were quantified using flow cytometry. Results showed that inter-individual differences are a main influencing factor in Th17 and Treg variance, however total variance explained remained small (R2 = 15-39%). Overall, Th17 and Treg populations were not significantly affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy in adjusted linear mixed models (p>0.05), however comparison of repeated measures among SARS-CoV-2 infected participants and non-infected controls suggests a relative increase of the Th17/Treg ratio following infection. In addition, the Th17/Treg ratio was significantly higher after SARS-CoV-2 infection prior to pregnancy (10-138 weeks) compared to controls (β=0.48, p=0.003). COVID-19 vaccination was not associated with Th17 and Treg cells. Our findings suggest an impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the Th17/Treg ratio, likely depending on severity of infection, yet the observed trends and their potential consequences for pregnancy outcomes require further investigation. Our study contributes to growing evidence that COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy does not lead to an exacerbated immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederieke A. J. Gigase
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Mara Graziani
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center (UMC), Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Juliana Castro
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Corina Lesseur
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Anna-Sophie Rommel
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Tammy Flores
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | | | - Siobhan Dolan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stamford Health, Stamford, CT, United States
| | - Joanne Stone
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Teresa Janevic
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, United States
| | - Whitney Lieb
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
- Blavatnik Family Women’s Health Research Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Veerle Bergink
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
- Blavatnik Family Women’s Health Research Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Lot D. de Witte
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center (UMC), Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry, Radboud University Medical Center (UMC), Nijmegen, Netherlands
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Liu PC, Li JB, Huang YP, Zhang M, Yu SJ, Wu R. Overexpression of regulatory T cells in patients with unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss: friend or foe? Front Med (Lausanne) 2024; 10:1244424. [PMID: 38239620 PMCID: PMC10794536 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1244424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Background This study aimed to investigate the role of regulatory T cells in patients with unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss (URPL). Methods We retrospectively analyzed 136 women who had experienced two or more miscarriages before 24 weeks of gestation for no obvious reason from May 2018 to October 2021. The basic clinical data of the patients and expression of lymphocyte subsets such as regulatory T cells (Tregs) and natural killer cells (NKs) by flow cytometry were collected to explore the risk factors of pregnancy outcome in URPL patients. Results A total of 136 URPL patients were enrolled in this study. Eventually, 50 patients attained clinical pregnancy. The median age was 31.8 ± 4.6 years in patients with clinical pregnancy. The univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses indicated that Tregs was associated with the pregnancy outcomes of patients with URPL (odds ratio 0.63, 95% confidence interval 0.50-0.80). More importantly, a U-shaped association was found between Tregs and pregnancy outcome (p < 0.001), with either higher or lower Tregs levels adversely affecting pregnancy outcome. Conclusion Tregs levels that are either too high or too low can harm pregnancy outcomes. It was expected to be a very promising quantitative biomarker for predicting pregnancy outcomes in URPL patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Rui Wu
- Department of Rheumatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
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5
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Chen Z, Zhang Y, Kwak-Kim J, Wang W. Memory regulatory T cells in pregnancy. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1209706. [PMID: 37954599 PMCID: PMC10637476 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1209706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy requires the process of maternal immune tolerance to semi-allogeneic embryos. In contrast, an overreactive maternal immune system to embryo-specific antigens is likely to result in the rejection of embryos while damaging the invading placenta, such that the likelihood of adverse pregnancy outcomes can be increased. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are capable of suppressing excessive immune responses and regulating immune homeostasis. When stimulating Tregs, specific antigens will differentiate into memory Tregs with long-term survival and rapid and powerful immune regulatory ability. Immunomodulatory effects mediated by memory Tregs at the maternal-fetal interface take on critical significance in a successful pregnancy. The impaired function of memory Tregs shows a correlation with various pregnancy complications (e.g., preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, and recurrent pregnancy losses). However, the differentiation process and characteristics of memory Tregs, especially their role in pregnancy, remain unclear. In this study, a review is presented in terms of memory Tregs differentiation and activation, the characteristics of memory Tregs and their role in pregnancy, and the correlation between memory Tregs and pregnancy complications. Furthermore, several potential therapeutic methods are investigated to restore the function of memory Tregs in accordance with immunopathologies arising from memory Tregs abnormalities and provide novel targets for diagnosing and treating pregnancy-associated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeyang Chen
- School of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
- Reproduction Medical Center, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanan Zhang
- School of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China
| | - Joanne Kwak-Kim
- Reproductive Medicine and Immunology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinical Sciences Department, Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Vernon Hills, IL, United States
- Center for Cancer Cell Biology, Immunology and Infection, Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Wenjuan Wang
- Reproduction Medical Center, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Mahajan S, Alexander A, Koenig Z, Saba N, Prasanphanich N, Hildeman DA, Chougnet CA, DeFranco E, Andorf S, Tilburgs T. Antigen-specific decidual CD8+ T cells include distinct effector memory and tissue-resident memory cells. JCI Insight 2023; 8:e171806. [PMID: 37681414 PMCID: PMC10544202 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.171806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal decidual CD8+ T cells must integrate the antithetical demands of providing immunity to infection while maintaining immune tolerance for fetal and placental antigens. Human decidual CD8+ T cells were shown to be highly differentiated memory T cells with mixed signatures of dysfunction, activation, and effector function. However, no information is present on how specificity for microbial or fetal antigens relates to their function or dysfunction. In addition, a key question, whether decidual CD8+ T cells include unique tissue-resident memory T cells (Trm) or also effector memory T cell (Tem) types shared with peripheral blood populations, is unknown. Here, high-dimensional flow cytometry of decidual and blood CD8+ T cells identified 2 Tem populations shared in blood and decidua and 9 functionally distinct Trm clusters uniquely found in decidua. Interestingly, fetus- and virus-specific decidual CD8+ Trm cells had similar features of inhibition and cytotoxicity, with no significant differences in their expression of activation, inhibitory, and cytotoxic molecules, suggesting that not all fetus-specific CD8+ T cell responses are suppressed at the maternal-fetal interface. Understanding how decidual CD8+ T cell specificity relates to their function and tissue residency is crucial in advancing understanding of their contribution to placental inflammation and control of congenital infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shweta Mahajan
- Immunology Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Division of Immunobiology
| | - Aria Alexander
- Immunology Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Division of Immunobiology
| | - Zachary Koenig
- Immunology Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Division of Immunobiology
| | | | - Nina Prasanphanich
- Division of Immunobiology
- Division of Infectious disease, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | | | | | - Emily DeFranco
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Sandra Andorf
- Division of Biomedical Informatics, and
- Department of Pediatrics, and
- Division of Allergy & Immunology, and
| | - Tamara Tilburgs
- Division of Immunobiology
- Department of Pediatrics, and
- Center for Inflammation and Tolerance, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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Ersoy Canillioglu Y, Senturk GE, Sahin H, Sahin S, Seval-Celik Y. The Distribution of Foxp3 and CD68 in Preeclamptic and Healthy Placentas: A Histomorphological Evaluation. J Histochem Cytochem 2023; 71:211-225. [PMID: 37070940 PMCID: PMC10149892 DOI: 10.1369/00221554231170662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Preeclampsia is a complication of pregnancy that affects 3-5% of pregnancies and is one of the major causes of maternal/neonatal mortality and morbidities worldwide. We aimed to investigate the distribution of Foxp3+ regulatory T-cells and CD68+ Hofbauer cells in the placenta of preeclamptic and healthy pregnant women with a special focus on correlating these findings with placental histology. Decidua and chorionic villi of the placenta obtained from healthy and preeclamptic pregnancies were evaluated in full-thickness sections. Sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and Masson's trichrome and immunostained for Foxp3 and CD68 for histological analyses. The total histomorphological score for placentas was found to be higher in preeclamptic placentas than that in the controls. The CD68 immunoreactivity was higher in the chorionic villi of preeclamptic placentas than that in the controls. The immunoreactivity of Foxp3 was found widely distributed within the decidua in both the groups and did not differ significantly. Interestingly, Foxp3 immunoreactivity in the chorionic villi was found mainly in the villous core and, to a lesser extent, in the syncytiotrophoblasts. We found no significant relation between Foxp3 expressions and morphological changes observed in preeclamptic placentas. Although extensive research is being carried out regarding the pathophysiology of preeclampsia, the findings are still controversial.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gozde Erkanli Senturk
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Hakan Sahin
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Sadik Sahin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medeniyet University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Yasemin Seval-Celik
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Izmir University of Economics, Izmir, Turkey
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Laskewitz A, Kieffer TEC, van Benthem KL, Erwich JJHM, Faas MM, Prins JR. Differences in Immune phenotype in decidual tissue from multigravid women compared to primigravid women. Am J Reprod Immunol 2023; 89:e13658. [PMID: 36414574 DOI: 10.1111/aji.13658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
PROBLEM Women with a previous uncomplicated pregnancy have lower risks of immune-associated pregnancy disorders in a subsequent pregnancy. This could indicate a different maternal immune response in multigravid women compared to primigravid women. In a previous study, we showed persistent higher memory T cell proportions with higher CD69 expression after uncomplicated pregnancies. To our knowledge no studies have reported on immune cells in general, and immune memory cells and macrophages specifically in multigravid and primigravid women. METHOD OF STUDY T cells and macrophages were isolated from term decidua parietalis and decidua basalis tissue from healthy primigravid women (n = 12) and multigravid women (n = 12). Using flow cytometry, different T cell populations including memory T cells and macrophages were analyzed. To analyze whether a different immune phenotype is already present in early pregnancy, decidual tissue from uncomplicated ongoing pregnancies between 9 and 12 weeks of gestation from multigravida and primigravid women was investigated using qRT-PCR. RESULTS Nearly all T cell subsets analyzed in the decidua parietalis had significantly higher CD69+ proportions in multigravid women compared to primigravid women. A higher proportion of decidual (CD50- ) M2-like macrophages was found in the decidua parietalis in multigravid women compared to primigravid women. In first trimester decidual tissue higher FOXP3 mRNA expression was found in multigravid women compared to primigravid women. CONCLUSIONS This study shows that decidual tissue from multigravid women has a more activated and immunoregulatory phenotype compared to decidual tissue from primigravid women in early pregnancy and at term which could suggest a more balanced immune adaptation towards pregnancy after earlier uncomplicated pregnancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Laskewitz
- Division of Medical Biology, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Tom E C Kieffer
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.,Currently: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, OLVG, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Karlijn L van Benthem
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Jaap H M Erwich
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Marijke M Faas
- Division of Medical Biology, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jelmer R Prins
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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9
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Immunopathological insights into villitis of unknown etiology on the basis of transplant immunology. Placenta 2023; 131:49-57. [PMID: 36473393 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2022.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Villitis of unknown etiology (VUE) is an inflammatory disease characterized by the infiltration of maternal CD8 +T cells into the placental villi. Although the pathogenesis of VUE is still debated, dysregulation of the immune system appears to be an important factor in the development of the disease. Interaction of maternal T cells with the fetal antigens seems to be the trigger for the VUE onset. In this context, graft vs host disease (GVHD) and allographic rejection seem to share similarities in the VUE immunopathological mechanism, especially those related to immunoregulation. In this review, we compared the immunological characteristics of VUE with allograft rejection, and GVHD favoring a better knowledge of VUE pathogenesis that may contribute to VUE therapeutics strategies in the future.
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10
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Kim AE, Nelson A, Stimpert K, Flyckt RL, Thirumavalavan N, Baker KC, Weinmann SC, Hoimes CJ. Minding the Bathwater: Fertility and Reproductive Toxicity in the Age of Immuno-Oncology. JCO Oncol Pract 2022; 18:815-822. [PMID: 36174117 PMCID: PMC10166412 DOI: 10.1200/op.22.00469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibition has resulted in significant efficacy across many cancer types, including melanoma. Melanoma is the second most common cancer among those of reproductive age, yet the reproductive toxicities of adjuvant and first-line immunotherapy are largely unknown.The normal innate and adaptive immune systems play a vital role in reproductive organ homeostasis of men and women and are essential for implantation, fertility, and a successful pregnancy. The programmed cell death-1 receptor/programmed cell death receptor ligand-1 (PD-1/PD-L1) pathway is essential in several aspects of fertility and pregnancy. Recent studies have largely focused on the role of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway in fetomaternal tolerance, highlighting the importance of intact immune regulation in promoting a successful pregnancy.In this review, we describe a case of a reproductive-aged female with stage IIIC melanoma who sought guidance on family planning after pembrolizumab therapy. We discuss the known fertility-related toxicities of immune checkpoint inhibitors, the potential targets for reproductive toxicity in males and nonpregnant females, and the implications of anti-PD-1 therapy in relation to fetomaternal tolerance. Informed decision making will benefit from data and consensus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne E. Kim
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
| | - Ariel Nelson
- University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, The Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
| | - Kyle Stimpert
- University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
- VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System, Cleveland, OH
| | | | - Nannan Thirumavalavan
- Department of Urology, University Hospitals, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
| | | | - Sophia C. Weinmann
- Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Duke University, Durham, NC
- Center for Cancer Immunotherapy, Duke University, Durham, NC
| | - Christopher J. Hoimes
- Center for Cancer Immunotherapy, Duke University, Durham, NC
- Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC
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Parasar P, Bernard M, Ahn SH, Kshirsagar SK, Nguyen SL, Grzesiak GR, Vettathu M, Martin D, Petroff MG. Isolation and characterization of uterine leukocytes collected using a uterine swab technique. Am J Reprod Immunol 2022; 88:e13614. [PMID: 35997140 PMCID: PMC9787928 DOI: 10.1111/aji.13614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
PROBLEM Leukocytes from the maternal-fetal interface are a valuable tool to study local changes in immune function during pregnancy; however, sampling can be challenging due to inadequate tissue availability and the invasive nature of placental bed biopsy. Here, we aim to purify and characterize leukocytes from paired peripheral and uterine blood samples to assess whether a less invasive method of uterine blood collection could yield a population of enriched uterine leukocytes suitable for ex vivo and in vitro analyses. METHOD OF STUDY Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and uterine blood mononuclear cells (UBMC) expressed from surgical gauze post C-section were isolated, and immunophenotypic information was acquired by multi-parameter flow cytometry. PBMC and UBMC were stained for markers used to define T and B lymphocytes, macrophages, regulatory T (TReg ) cells, and natural killer (NK) cells. Prime flow was performed to check expression and analysis of CD16- CD56++ and CD16- CD56++ NK transcripts in PBMC and UBMC samples. RESULTS Immunophenotyping revealed that over 95% of both live PBMC and UBMC consisted of CD45+ leukocytes. Higher percentages of CD16- CD56++ , characterized as uterine NK (uNK) cells, were observed in UBMC samples as compared to PBMC samples (18.41% of CD45+ CD3- vs. 2.73%, respectively), suggesting that CD16- CD56++ cells were enriched in these samples. In UBMC, 49.64% of CD3-negative cells were of peripheral NK phenotype (CD16+ CD56++ ), suggesting infiltration of maternal peripheral NK (pNK) cell in the uterine interface. CONCLUSION Intrauterine leukocytes, especially CD16- CD56++ NK cells, can be collected in sufficient numbers with increased purity by sampling the uterine cavity postdelivery with surgical gauze. Our results suggest that this non-invasive protocol is a useful sampling technique for isolating CD16- CD56++ cells, however, due to peripheral blood contamination, the NK cell yield could be lower compared to actual decidual or endometrial samples post-partum which is more invasive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parveen Parasar
- Department of Pathobiology & Diagnostic InvestigationChildren's Hospital BostonEast LansingMichiganUSA
| | - Matthew Bernard
- Department of Pharmacology & ToxicologyMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMichiganUSA
| | - Soo Hyun Ahn
- Department of Pathobiology & Diagnostic InvestigationChildren's Hospital BostonEast LansingMichiganUSA
| | - Sarika K. Kshirsagar
- Department of Pathobiology & Diagnostic InvestigationChildren's Hospital BostonEast LansingMichiganUSA
| | - Sean L. Nguyen
- Cell and Molecular Biology ProgramMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMichiganUSA,Institute for Integrative ToxicologyMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMichiganUSA
| | - Geoffrey R. Grzesiak
- Department of Pathobiology & Diagnostic InvestigationChildren's Hospital BostonEast LansingMichiganUSA
| | - Mathew Vettathu
- Department of Obstetrics & GynecologySparrow HospitalEast LansingMichiganUSA
| | - Denny Martin
- Department of Obstetrics & GynecologySparrow HospitalEast LansingMichiganUSA
| | - Margaret G. Petroff
- Department of Pathobiology & Diagnostic InvestigationChildren's Hospital BostonEast LansingMichiganUSA,Cell and Molecular Biology ProgramMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMichiganUSA,Microbiology & Molecular GeneticsMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMichiganUSA
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12
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Moldenhauer LM, Hull ML, Foyle KL, McCormack CD, Robertson SA. Immune–Metabolic Interactions and T Cell Tolerance in Pregnancy. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2022; 209:1426-1436. [DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2200362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Pregnancy depends on a state of maternal immune tolerance mediated by CD4+ regulatory T (Treg) cells. Uterine Treg cells release anti-inflammatory factors, inhibit effector immunity, and support adaptation of the uterine vasculature to facilitate placental development. Insufficient Treg cells or inadequate functional competence is implicated in infertility and recurrent miscarriage, as well as pregnancy complications preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, and preterm birth, which stem from placental insufficiency. In this review we address an emerging area of interest in pregnancy immunology–the significance of metabolic status in regulating the Treg cell expansion required for maternal–fetal tolerance. We describe how hyperglycemia and insulin resistance affect T cell responses to suppress generation of Treg cells, summarize data that implicate a role for altered glucose metabolism in impaired maternal–fetal tolerance, and explore the prospect of targeting dysregulated metabolism to rebalance the adaptive immune response in women experiencing reproductive disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lachlan M. Moldenhauer
- *Robinson Research Institute and School of Biomedicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; and
| | - M. Louise Hull
- *Robinson Research Institute and School of Biomedicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; and
| | - Kerrie L. Foyle
- *Robinson Research Institute and School of Biomedicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; and
| | - Catherine D. McCormack
- *Robinson Research Institute and School of Biomedicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; and
- †Women’s and Children’s Hospital, North Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Sarah A. Robertson
- *Robinson Research Institute and School of Biomedicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; and
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13
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Murrieta-Coxca JM, Fuentes-Zacarias P, Ospina-Prieto S, Markert UR, Morales-Prieto DM. Synergies of Extracellular Vesicles and Microchimerism in Promoting Immunotolerance During Pregnancy. Front Immunol 2022; 13:837281. [PMID: 35844513 PMCID: PMC9285877 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.837281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The concept of biological identity has been traditionally a central issue in immunology. The assumption that entities foreign to a specific organism should be rejected by its immune system, while self-entities do not trigger an immune response is challenged by the expanded immunotolerance observed in pregnancy. To explain this "immunological paradox", as it was first called by Sir Peter Medawar, several mechanisms have been described in the last decades. Among them, the intentional transfer and retention of small amounts of cells between a mother and her child have gained back attention. These microchimeric cells contribute to expanding allotolerance in both organisms and enhancing genetic fitness, but they could also provoke aberrant alloimmune activation. Understanding the mechanisms used by microchimeric cells to exert their function in pregnancy has proven to be challenging as per definition they are extremely rare. Profiting from studies in the field of transplantation and cancer research, a synergistic effect of microchimerism and cellular communication based on the secretion of extracellular vesicles (EVs) has begun to be unveiled. EVs are already known to play a pivotal role in feto-maternal tolerance by transferring cargo from fetal to maternal immune cells to reshape their function. A further aspect of EVs is their function in antigen presentation either directly or on the surface of recipient cells. Here, we review the current understanding of microchimerism in the feto-maternal tolerance during human pregnancy and the potential role of EVs in mediating the allorecognition and tropism of microchimeric cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Udo R. Markert
- Placenta Lab, Department of Obstetrics, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
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14
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Zha Y, Liu H, Lin X, Yu L, Gao P, Li Y, Wu M, Gong X, Bian X, Kang Q, Zhi P, Dang X, Wang J, Feng L, Qiao F, Huang Y, Zeng W. Immune Deviation in the Decidua During Term and Preterm Labor. Front Immunol 2022; 13:877314. [PMID: 35757768 PMCID: PMC9226582 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.877314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The maternal-fetal immune disorder is considered to be an important factor of preterm birth (PTB); however, the underlying mechanism is still not fully understood. This study was designed to explore the innate and adaptive immune features in the decidua during term and preterm labor. Women delivered at term or preterm were classified into four groups: term not in labor (TNL, N=19), term in labor (TL, N=17), preterm not in labor (PNL, N=10), and preterm in labor (PIL, N=10). Decidua basalis and parietalis were collected and analyzed for macrophage subtypes (M1 and M2) as well as T helper 1 (Th1), Th2, Th17 and regulatory T (Treg) cells by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. Our results demonstrated significantly decreased frequencies of M2 cells and elevated M1/M2 ratio in the PIL group compared to that in the PNL group in both decidua basalis and parietalis, whereas no significant differences were found between the above two groups in both sites in terms of the polarization status of Th cells. On the contrary, macrophage subsets were comparable in the TL and TNL groups, whereas elevated Th1 percentages and Th1/Th2 ratio were observed in TL women compared to that in TNL women in the decidua. Interestingly, although the frequencies and ratios of Th17 and Treg were comparable among the four groups, the Th17/Treg ratios of these groups were significantly increased in decidua basalis than that in decidua parietalis. Collectively, the M1/M2 imbalance is associated with the breakdown of maternal-fetal immune tolerance during PTB, whereas the aberrant Th1/Th2 profile plays an important role in immune disorder during term labor. Moreover, Th17/Treg deviation is more remarkable in decidua basalis than in decidua parietalis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Zha
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Haiyi Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xingguang Lin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Long Yu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Peng Gao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuqi Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Min Wu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xun Gong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xinyi Bian
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Qi Kang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Pan Zhi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaohe Dang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jingyu Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ling Feng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Fuyuan Qiao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yafei Huang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Wanjiang Zeng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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15
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Gershater M, Romero R, Arenas-Hernandez M, Galaz J, Motomura K, Tao L, Xu Y, Miller D, Pique-Regi R, Martinez G, Liu Y, Jung E, Para R, Gomez-Lopez N. IL-22 Plays a Dual Role in the Amniotic Cavity: Tissue Injury and Host Defense against Microbes in Preterm Labor. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2022; 208:1595-1615. [PMID: 35304419 PMCID: PMC8976826 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2100439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
IL-22 is a multifaceted cytokine with both pro- and anti-inflammatory functions that is implicated in multiple pathologies. However, the role of IL-22 in maternal-fetal immunity in late gestation is poorly understood. In this study, we first showed that IL-22+ T cells coexpressing retinoic acid-related orphan receptor γt (ROR-γt) are enriched at the human maternal-fetal interface of women with preterm labor and birth, which was confirmed by in silico analysis of single-cell RNA sequencing data. T cell activation leading to preterm birth in mice was preceded by a surge in IL-22 in the maternal circulation and amniotic cavity; however, systemic administration of IL-22 in mice did not induce adverse perinatal outcomes. Next, using an ex vivo human system, we showed that IL-22 can cross from the choriodecidua to the intra-amniotic space, where its receptors (Il22ra1, Il10rb, and Il22ra2) are highly expressed by murine gestational and fetal tissues in late pregnancy. Importantly, amniotic fluid concentrations of IL-22 were elevated in women with sterile or microbial intra-amniotic inflammation, suggesting a dual role for this cytokine. The intra-amniotic administration of IL-22 alone shortened gestation and caused neonatal death in mice, with the latter outcome involving lung maturation and inflammation. IL-22 plays a role in host response by participating in the intra-amniotic inflammatory milieu preceding Ureaplasma parvum-induced preterm birth in mice, which was rescued by the deficiency of IL-22. Collectively, these data show that IL-22 alone is capable of causing fetal injury leading to neonatal death and can participate in host defense against microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity leading to preterm labor and birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meyer Gershater
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Roberto Romero
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
- Center for Molecular Obstetrics and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
- Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, MI; and
| | - Marcia Arenas-Hernandez
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Jose Galaz
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Kenichiro Motomura
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Li Tao
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Yi Xu
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Derek Miller
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Roger Pique-Regi
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
- Center for Molecular Obstetrics and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
| | - Gregorio Martinez
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Yesong Liu
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Eunjung Jung
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Robert Para
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Nardhy Gomez-Lopez
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI;
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
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16
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Yang Q, Li M, Zhao M, Lu F, Yu X, Li L, Gu Z, Deng Y, Guan R. Progesterone modulates CD4 + CD25 + FoxP3 + regulatory T Cells and TGF-β1 in the maternal-fetal interface of the late pregnant mouse. Am J Reprod Immunol 2022; 88:e13541. [PMID: 35338548 DOI: 10.1111/aji.13541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Progesterone supplementation is recommended to prevent spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) in clinical practice. However, the exact mechanism is still unclear. This study aims to better understand the mechanisms that progesterone can prevent PTB. METHODS Late pregnant mice were given various doses of progesterone receptor antagonist mifepristone, and pregnancy outcomes were observed. Then, non-pregnant and pregnant mice were given a subcutaneous injection of 40 mg/kg progesterone and 5 mg/kg mifepristone, respectively. CD4+ CD25+ FoxP3+ Treg cells in peripheral blood and decidua basalis were detected by FACS. Expressions of FoxP3 and TGF-β1 in the decidua basalis were detected. RESULTS Mifepristone induced preterm birth, and an obvious dose-response was found. Proportions of CD4+ CD25+ FoxP3+ Treg cells in the peripheral blood of non-pregnant mice increased significantly after progesterone injection. CD4+ CD25+ FoxP3+ Treg cells in the peripheral blood of pregnant mice increased significantly compared with those of non-pregnant mice. In pregnant mice, mifepristone significantly decreased the proportions of CD4+ CD25+ FoxP3+ Treg cells in peripheral blood, and reduced proportions of Treg cells at the maternal-fetal interface and expressions of FoxP3 and TGF-β1 in the maternal-fetal interface. Total 40 mg/kg of progesterone did not increase CD4+ CD25+ FoxP3+ Treg in the peripheral blood of pregnant mice, but increased proportions of Treg cells at the maternal-fetal interface and up-regulated FoxP3 and TGF-β1 expressions in the maternal-fetal interface. CONCLUSION Progesterone promotes pregnancy immune homeostasis by up-regulating Treg cells and TGF-β1 expression in the maternal-fetal interface. It may be one of the mechanisms of progesterone in preventing sPTB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianqian Yang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Meihui Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ming Zhao
- Department of Neurology, Naval Specialty Medical Center, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Feifan Lu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaomin Yu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Li Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhongyi Gu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yifang Deng
- Department of Pharmacology, Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai, China
| | - Rui Guan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
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Regulatory T Cell Apoptosis during Preeclampsia May Be Prevented by Gal-2. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23031880. [PMID: 35163802 PMCID: PMC8836599 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
There are several open questions to be answered regarding the pathophysiology of the development of preeclampsia (PE). Numerous factors are involved in its genesis, such as defective placentation, vascular impairment, and an altered immune response. The activation of the adaptive and innate immune system represents an immunologic, particularity during PE. Proinflammatory cytokines are predominantly produced, whereas immune regulatory and immune suppressive factors are diminished in PE. In the present study, we focused on the recruitment of regulatory T cells (Tregs) which are key players in processes mediating immune tolerance. To identify Tregs in the decidua, an immunohistochemical staining of FoxP3 of 32 PE and 34 control placentas was performed. A clearly reduced number of FoxP3-positive cells in the decidua of preeclamptic women could be shown in our analysis (p = 0.036). Furthermore, CCL22, a well-known Treg chemoattractant, was immunohistochemically evaluated. Interestingly, CCL22 expression was increased at the maternal-fetal interface in PE-affected pregnancies (psyncytiotrophoblast = 0.035, pdecidua = 0.004). Therefore, the hypothesis that Tregs undergo apoptosis at the materno-fetal interface during PE was generated, and verified by FoxP3/TUNEL (TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling) staining. Galectin-2 (Gal-2), a member of the family of carbohydrate-binding proteins, which is known to be downregulated during PE, seems to play a pivotal role in T cell apoptosis. By performing a cell culture experiment with isolated Tregs, we could identify Gal-2 as a factor that seems to prevent the apoptosis of Tregs. Our findings point to a cascade of apoptosis of Tregs at the materno-fetal interface during PE. Gal-2 might be a potential therapeutic target in PE to regulate immune tolerance.
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18
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Dynamic changes in regulatory T cells during normal pregnancy, recurrent pregnancy loss, and gestational diabetes. J Reprod Immunol 2022; 150:103492. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2022.103492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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19
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Mei Y, Ran Y, Liu Z, Zhou Y, He J, Yin N, Qi H. IL-27 Mediates Th1 Cells Infiltration in Fetal Membranes in Preterm Labor. Reprod Sci 2021; 29:1764-1775. [PMID: 34859389 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-021-00803-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of IL-27 on Th1 cells infiltration in human fetal membranes (FMs) in preterm labor (PL). The expression of Th1 cells specific transcription factor (T-bet), Th1 cells infiltration related molecules (CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL11, and ICAM-1), and IL-27 receptor α subunit (IL-27Rα) was compared in human FMs from pregnant women in PL group and term labor (TL) group. In vitro, rhIL-27 was added to the culture medium of amniotic epithelial cells (WISH cells) to detect the expression of CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL11, and ICAM-1. Furthermore, the underlying signaling pathway was detected by single-sample gene set enrichment analysis and western blot analysis. The expression of T-bet and CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL11, and ICAM-1 as well as IL-27Rα was higher in human FMs from PL group than TL group. In vitro, rhIL-27 could upregulate the expression of CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL11, and ICAM-1 in WISH cells. Using gene-set enrichment analysis of FMs, JAK/STAT signaling pathway was found to be activated by IL-27 signaling in PL. Using western blot analysis, JAK2/STAT1/STAT3 signaling pathway was confirmed to be enhanced in rhIL-27 treated WISH cells. In addition, AG490 (JAK2 inhibitor) could inhibit the secretion of CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11 in WISH cells stimulated by rhIL-27. Our results suggested that IL-27 may promote Th1 cells infiltration in human FMs in PL, by promoting the expression of CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11 at least partly through JAK2/STAT1/STAT3 signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youwen Mei
- International Collaborative Jointed Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China.,State Key Laboratory of Maternal, Fetal Medicine of Chongqing Municipality, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China.,Department of Obstetrics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Yuxin Ran
- International Collaborative Jointed Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China.,State Key Laboratory of Maternal, Fetal Medicine of Chongqing Municipality, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China.,Department of Obstetrics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Zheng Liu
- International Collaborative Jointed Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China.,State Key Laboratory of Maternal, Fetal Medicine of Chongqing Municipality, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China.,Department of Obstetrics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Yunqian Zhou
- International Collaborative Jointed Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China.,State Key Laboratory of Maternal, Fetal Medicine of Chongqing Municipality, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China.,Department of Obstetrics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Jie He
- International Collaborative Jointed Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China.,State Key Laboratory of Maternal, Fetal Medicine of Chongqing Municipality, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China.,Department of Obstetrics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Nanlin Yin
- International Collaborative Jointed Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China. .,State Key Laboratory of Maternal, Fetal Medicine of Chongqing Municipality, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China. .,Department of Obstetrics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China.
| | - Hongbo Qi
- International Collaborative Jointed Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China. .,State Key Laboratory of Maternal, Fetal Medicine of Chongqing Municipality, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China. .,Department of Obstetrics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China.
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20
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Feyaerts D, Gillard J, van Cranenbroek B, Rigodanzo Marins L, Baghdady MMS, Comitini G, Lely AT, van Hamersvelt HW, van der Heijden OWH, Joosten I, van der Molen RG. Maternal, Decidual, and Neonatal Lymphocyte Composition Is Affected in Pregnant Kidney Transplant Recipients. Front Immunol 2021; 12:735564. [PMID: 34777345 PMCID: PMC8585145 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.735564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy after renal transplantation is associated with an increased risk of complications. While a delicately balanced uterine immune system is essential for a successful pregnancy, little is known about the uterine immune environment of pregnant kidney transplant recipients. Moreover, children born to kidney transplant recipients are exposed in utero to immunosuppressive drugs, with possible consequences for neonatal outcomes. Here, we defined the effects of kidney transplantation on the immune cell composition during pregnancy with a cohort of kidney transplant recipients as well as healthy controls with uncomplicated pregnancies. Maternal immune cells from peripheral blood were collected during pregnancy as well as from decidua and cord blood obtained after delivery. Multiparameter flow cytometry was used to identify and characterize populations of cells. While systemic immune cell frequencies were altered in kidney transplant patients, immune cell dynamics over the course of pregnancy were largely similar to healthy women. In the decidua of women with a kidney transplant, we observed a decreased frequency of HLA-DR+ Treg, particularly in those treated with tacrolimus versus those that were treated with azathioprine next to tacrolimus, or with azathioprine alone. In addition, both the innate and adaptive neonatal immune system of children born to kidney transplant recipients was significantly altered compared to neonates born from uncomplicated pregnancies. Overall, our findings indicate a significant and distinct impact on the maternal systemic, uterine, and neonatal immune cell composition in pregnant kidney transplant recipients, which could have important consequences for the incidence of pregnancy complications, treatment decisions, and the offspring's health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorien Feyaerts
- Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Joshua Gillard
- Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Section Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands.,Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Bram van Cranenbroek
- Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Lina Rigodanzo Marins
- Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands.,Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Mariam M S Baghdady
- Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Gaia Comitini
- Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - A Titia Lely
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | | | | | - Irma Joosten
- Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Renate G van der Molen
- Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
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21
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Yeganeh Kazemi N, Fedyshyn B, Sutor S, Fedyshyn Y, Markovic S, Enninga EAL. Maternal Monocytes Respond to Cell-Free Fetal DNA and Initiate Key Processes of Human Parturition. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2021; 207:2433-2444. [PMID: 34663619 PMCID: PMC8578468 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2100649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Throughout gestation, the maternal immune system is tightly modulated to allow growth of a semiallogeneic fetus. During the third trimester, the maternal immune system shifts to a proinflammatory phenotype in preparation for labor. What induces this shift remains unclear. Cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) is shed by the placenta and enters maternal circulation throughout pregnancy. Levels of cffDNA are increased as gestation progresses and peak before labor, coinciding with a shift to proinflammatory maternal immunity. Furthermore, cffDNA is abnormally elevated in plasma from women with complications of pregnancy, including preterm labor. Given the changes in maternal immunity at the end of pregnancy and the role of sterile inflammation in the pathophysiology of spontaneous preterm birth, we hypothesized that cffDNA can act as a damage-associated molecular pattern inducing an inflammatory cytokine response that promotes hallmarks of parturition. To test this hypothesis, we stimulated human maternal leukocytes with cffDNA from primary term cytotrophoblasts or maternal plasma and observed significant IL-1β and CXCL10 secretion, which coincides with phosphorylation of IFN regulatory factor 3 and caspase-1 cleavage. We then show that human maternal monocytes are crucial for the immune response to cffDNA and can activate bystander T cells to secrete proinflammatory IFN-γ and granzyme B. Lastly, we find that the monocyte response to cffDNA leads to vascular endothelium activation, induction of myometrial contractility, and PGE2 release in vitro. Our results suggest that the immune response to cffDNA can promote key features of the parturition cascade, which has physiologic consequences relevant to the timing of labor.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bohdana Fedyshyn
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Shari Sutor
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Yaroslav Fedyshyn
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; and
| | - Svetomir Markovic
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN;,Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Elizabeth Ann L. Enninga
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN;,Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
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22
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Moström MJ, Scheef EA, Sprehe LM, Szeltner D, Tran D, Hennebold JD, Roberts VHJ, Maness NJ, Fahlberg M, Kaur A. Immune Profile of the Normal Maternal-Fetal Interface in Rhesus Macaques and Its Alteration Following Zika Virus Infection. Front Immunol 2021; 12:719810. [PMID: 34394129 PMCID: PMC8358803 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.719810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The maternal decidua is an immunologically complex environment that balances maintenance of immune tolerance to fetal paternal antigens with protection of the fetus against vertical transmission of maternal pathogens. To better understand host immune determinants of congenital infection at the maternal-fetal tissue interface, we performed a comparative analysis of innate and adaptive immune cell subsets in the peripheral blood and decidua of healthy rhesus macaque pregnancies across all trimesters of gestation and determined changes after Zika virus (ZIKV) infection. Using one 28-color and one 18-color polychromatic flow cytometry panel we simultaneously analyzed the frequency, phenotype, activation status and trafficking properties of αβ T, γδ T, iNKT, regulatory T (Treg), NK cells, B lymphocytes, monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells (DC). Decidual leukocytes showed a striking enrichment of activated effector memory and tissue-resident memory CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes, CD4+ Tregs, CD56+ NK cells, CD14+CD16+ monocytes, CD206+ tissue-resident macrophages, and a paucity of B lymphocytes when compared to peripheral blood. t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (tSNE) revealed unique populations of decidual NK, T, DC and monocyte/macrophage subsets. Principal component analysis showed distinct spatial localization of decidual and circulating leukocytes contributed by NK and CD8+ T lymphocytes, and separation of decidua based on gestational age contributed by memory CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes. Decidua from 10 ZIKV-infected dams obtained 16-56 days post infection at third (n=9) or second (n=1) trimester showed a significant reduction in frequency of activated, CXCR3+, and/or Granzyme B+ memory CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes and γδ T compared to normal decidua. These data suggest that ZIKV induces local immunosuppression with reduced immune recruitment and impaired cytotoxicity. Our study adds to the immune characterization of the maternal-fetal interface in a translational nonhuman primate model of congenital infection and provides novel insight in to putative mechanisms of vertical transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matilda J Moström
- Division of Immunology, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA, United States.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Elizabeth A Scheef
- Division of Immunology, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA, United States
| | - Lesli M Sprehe
- Division of Immunology, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA, United States
| | - Dawn Szeltner
- Division of Immunology, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA, United States
| | - Dollnovan Tran
- Division of Immunology, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA, United States
| | - Jon D Hennebold
- Division of Reproductive and Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, United States
| | - Victoria H J Roberts
- Division of Reproductive and Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, United States
| | - Nicholas J Maness
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States.,Division of Microbiology, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA, United States
| | - Marissa Fahlberg
- Division of Immunology, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA, United States
| | - Amitinder Kaur
- Division of Immunology, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA, United States.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
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23
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Gomez-Lopez N, Arenas-Hernandez M, Romero R, Miller D, Garcia-Flores V, Leng Y, Xu Y, Galaz J, Hassan SS, Hsu CD, Tse H, Sanchez-Torres C, Done B, Tarca AL. Regulatory T Cells Play a Role in a Subset of Idiopathic Preterm Labor/Birth and Adverse Neonatal Outcomes. Cell Rep 2021; 32:107874. [PMID: 32640239 PMCID: PMC7396155 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.107874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Revised: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) have been exhaustively investigated during early pregnancy; however, their role later in gestation is poorly understood. Herein, we report that functional Tregs are reduced at the maternal-fetal interface in a subset of women with idiopathic preterm labor/birth, which is accompanied by a concomitant increase in Tc17 cells. In mice, depletion of functional Tregs during late gestation induces preterm birth and adverse neonatal outcomes, which are rescued by the adoptive transfer of such cells. Treg depletion does not alter obstetrical parameters in the mother, yet it increases susceptibility to endotoxin-induced preterm birth. The mechanisms whereby depletion of Tregs induces adverse perinatal outcomes involve tissue-specific immune responses and mild systemic maternal inflammation, together with dysregulation of developmental and cellular processes in the placenta, in the absence of intra-amniotic inflammation. These findings provide mechanistic evidence supporting a role for Tregs in the pathophysiology of idiopathic preterm labor/birth and adverse neonatal outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nardhy Gomez-Lopez
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Biochemistry, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.
| | - Marcia Arenas-Hernandez
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; Departamento de Biomedicina Molecular, Centro de Investigacion y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politecnico Nacional, Mexico City 07360, Mexico
| | - Roberto Romero
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA; Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
| | - Derek Miller
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Valeria Garcia-Flores
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Yaozhu Leng
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Yi Xu
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Jose Galaz
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Sonia S Hassan
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Chaur-Dong Hsu
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Harley Tse
- Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Biochemistry, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Carmen Sanchez-Torres
- Departamento de Biomedicina Molecular, Centro de Investigacion y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politecnico Nacional, Mexico City 07360, Mexico
| | - Bogdan Done
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Adi L Tarca
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; Department of Computer Science, Wayne State University College of Engineering, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
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24
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Magatti M, Masserdotti A, Cargnoni A, Papait A, Stefani FR, Silini AR, Parolini O. The Role of B Cells in PE Pathophysiology: A Potential Target for Perinatal Cell-Based Therapy? Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:3405. [PMID: 33810280 PMCID: PMC8037408 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22073405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The pathophysiology of preeclampsia (PE) is poorly understood; however, there is a large body of evidence that suggests a role of immune cells in the development of PE. Amongst these, B cells are a dominant element in the pathogenesis of PE, and they have been shown to play an important role in various immune-mediated diseases, both as pro-inflammatory and regulatory cells. Perinatal cells are defined as cells from birth-associated tissues isolated from term placentas and fetal annexes and more specifically from the amniotic membrane, chorionic membrane, chorionic villi, umbilical cord (including Wharton's jelly), the basal plate, and the amniotic fluid. They have drawn particular attention in recent years due to their ability to modulate several aspects of immunity, making them promising candidates for the prevention and treatment of various immune-mediated diseases. In this review we describe main findings regarding the multifaceted in vitro and in vivo immunomodulatory properties of perinatal cells, with a focus on B lymphocytes. Indeed, we discuss evidence on the ability of perinatal cells to inhibit B cell proliferation, impair B cell differentiation, and promote regulatory B cell formation. Therefore, the findings discussed herein unveil the possibility to modulate B cell activation and function by exploiting perinatal immunomodulatory properties, thus possibly representing a novel therapeutic strategy in PE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Magatti
- Centro di Ricerca E. Menni, Fondazione Poliambulanza Istituto Ospedaliero, 25124 Brescia, Italy; (M.M.); (A.C.); (A.P.); (F.R.S.); (A.R.S.)
| | - Alice Masserdotti
- Department of Life Science and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, 00168 Roma, Italy;
| | - Anna Cargnoni
- Centro di Ricerca E. Menni, Fondazione Poliambulanza Istituto Ospedaliero, 25124 Brescia, Italy; (M.M.); (A.C.); (A.P.); (F.R.S.); (A.R.S.)
| | - Andrea Papait
- Centro di Ricerca E. Menni, Fondazione Poliambulanza Istituto Ospedaliero, 25124 Brescia, Italy; (M.M.); (A.C.); (A.P.); (F.R.S.); (A.R.S.)
- Department of Life Science and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, 00168 Roma, Italy;
| | - Francesca Romana Stefani
- Centro di Ricerca E. Menni, Fondazione Poliambulanza Istituto Ospedaliero, 25124 Brescia, Italy; (M.M.); (A.C.); (A.P.); (F.R.S.); (A.R.S.)
| | - Antonietta Rosa Silini
- Centro di Ricerca E. Menni, Fondazione Poliambulanza Istituto Ospedaliero, 25124 Brescia, Italy; (M.M.); (A.C.); (A.P.); (F.R.S.); (A.R.S.)
| | - Ornella Parolini
- Department of Life Science and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, 00168 Roma, Italy;
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “Agostino Gemelli” IRCCS, 00168 Roma, Italy
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25
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Ehsani M, Mohammadnia-Afrouzi M, Esmaeilzadeh S, Tajalli Z, Jafari M, Shahbazi M. Decreased Frequency of CD8 +HLA-G + T Cell in the Peripheral Blood of Primary Unexplained Infertile Females. Reprod Sci 2021; 28:1939-1944. [PMID: 33449350 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-020-00431-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Most of the findings have focused on the importance of CD4+HLA-G+ and CD8+HLA-G+ regulatory T cells (Treg) during pregnancy. It has been demonstrated that these HLA-G+ T cell subsets could induce maternal immune tolerance against semi-allogenic conceptus during pregnancy. There are only a few experiments regarding the Treg cells in the context of unexplained infertility (UI). Thirty-five participants including 18 primary unexplained infertile and 17 fertile females were enrolled in this study. A total of 3-5 ml blood samples were taken, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were separated by using Ficoll. Using a flow cytometer, the frequency of CD4+HLA-G+ and CD8+ HLA-G+ T cells was assessed in the peripheral blood samples of primary unexplained infertile and fertile females. Our results showed that the frequency of CD8+HLA-G+ Treg cells was significantly lower in primary unexplained infertile females than fertile females (P = 0.048). Although the frequency of CD4+HLA-G+ Treg cells in the primary unexplained infertile females was lower than fertile females, the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.25). Regarding the important role of CD8+HLA-G+ Treg cells during pregnancy and its decrease in females with primary UI, it seems that reduced CD8+ HLA-G+ Treg cells could be a leading immunological factor in the context of infertility. Nevertheless, more researches are needed in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Motahareh Ehsani
- Infertility and Health Reproductive Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
- Immunoregulation Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Mousa Mohammadnia-Afrouzi
- Infertility and Health Reproductive Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
- Immunoregulation Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Sedigheh Esmaeilzadeh
- Infertility and Health Reproductive Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Zahra Tajalli
- Infertility and Health Reproductive Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Mohammad Jafari
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Gerash University of Medical Sciences, Gerash, Iran.
| | - Mehdi Shahbazi
- Infertility and Health Reproductive Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
- Immunoregulation Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
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26
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Mikhailova VA, Markova KL, Belikova ME, Gzgzyan AM, Selkov SA, Sokolov DI. T-Lymphocyte proliferative activity in early pregnancy and outside pregnancy state. Gynecol Endocrinol 2021; 37:21-25. [PMID: 34937514 DOI: 10.1080/09513590.2021.2006477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
T-lymphocytes are present in the endometrium before pregnancy and their number varies depending on menstrual cycle stage. Despite T-lymphocyte population heterogeneity, there is no clear vision of general mechanisms of decidua T-lymphocyte pool formation. One of the assumed variants is T-lymphocyte proliferation in situ. The study objective is to evaluate variations of peripheral blood T-lymphocyte proliferative activity in the presence of trophoblast cells. The peripheral blood was sampled from healthy nonpregnant women in the proliferative (n = 29) and secretory (n = 32) menstrual cycle phases and also from women on 6-7 weeks stage of physiological pregnancy (n = 30). Jeg-3 (ATCC) line cells were applied as trophoblast cells within in vitro model system. T-lymphocyte proliferation was determined by estimating the Ki-67 expression and T-lymphocyte relative number. It was established that trophoblast cells perform inhibiting effect on Ki-67 by T-lymphocytes in all groups of examined women both in course of PBMC cultivation and in case of preliminarily isolated T-lymphocytes. During cultivation in the presence of IL-2 and trophoblasts, PBMC T-lymphocytes in pregnant women are more resistant to trophoblast cells inhibition than in nonpregnant women. In case of isolated T-lymphocytes, decreased T-lymphocyte proliferation during pregnancy was observed as compared to the proliferative cycle phase hence pointing to necessity of T-lymphocyte contact with microenvironment cells for self-support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina A Mikhailova
- FSBSI 'The Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology named after D.O.Ott', St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Kseniia L Markova
- FSBSI 'The Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology named after D.O.Ott', St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Madina E Belikova
- FSBSI 'The Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology named after D.O.Ott', St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Aleksander M Gzgzyan
- FSBSI 'The Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology named after D.O.Ott', St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Sergey A Selkov
- FSBSI 'The Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology named after D.O.Ott', St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Dmitriy I Sokolov
- FSBSI 'The Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology named after D.O.Ott', St. Petersburg, Russia
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Windsperger K, Vondra S, Lackner AI, Kunihs V, Haslinger P, Meinhardt G, Dietrich B, Dekan S, Fiala C, Knöfler M, Saleh L, Pollheimer J. Densities of decidual high endothelial venules correlate with T-cell influx in healthy pregnancies and idiopathic recurrent pregnancy losses. Hum Reprod 2020; 35:2467-2477. [PMID: 32940686 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deaa234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Do high endothelial venules (HEVs) appear in the uterus of healthy and pathological pregnancies? SUMMARY ANSWER Our study reveals that HEVs are present in the non-pregnant endometrium and decidua parietalis (decP) but decline upon placentation in decidua basalis (decB) and are less abundant in decidual tissues from idiopathic, recurrent pregnancy losses (RPLs). WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY RPL is associated with a compromised decidual vascular phenotype. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION Endometrial (n = 29) and first trimester decidual (n = 86, 6-12th week of gestation) tissue samples obtained from endometrial biopsies or elective pregnancy terminations were used to determine the number of HEVs and T cells. In addition, quantification of HEVs and immune cells was performed in a cohort of decidual tissues from RPL (n = 25). PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Position and frequency of HEVs were determined in non-pregnant endometrial as well as decidual tissue sections using immunofluorescence (IF) staining with antibodies against E-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule, von Willebrand factor, ephrin receptor B4, CD34 and a carbohydrate epitope specific to HEVs (MECA-79). Immune cell distribution and characterization was determined by antibodies recognizing CD45 and CD3 by IF staining- and flow cytometry-based analyses. Antibodies against c-c motif chemokine ligand 21 (CCL21) and lymphotoxin-beta were used in IF staining and Western blot analyses of decidual tissues. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Functional HEVs are found in high numbers in the secretory endometrium and decP but decline in numbers upon placentation in decB (P ≤ 0.001). Decidua parietalis tissues contain higher levels of the HEV-maintaining factor lymphotoxin beta and decP-associated HEVs also express CCL21 (P ≤ 0.05), a potent T-cell chemoattractant. Moreover, there is a positive correlation between the numbers of decidual HEVs and the abundance of CD3+ cells in decidual tissue sections (P ≤ 0.001). In-depth analysis of a RPL tissue collection revealed a decreased decB (P ≤ 0.01) and decP (P ≤ 0.01) HEV density as well as reduced numbers of T cells in decB (P ≤ 0.05) and decP (P ≤ .001) sections when compared with age-matched healthy control samples. Using receiver-operating characteristics analyses, we found significant predictive values for the ratios of CD3/CD45 (P < 0.001) and HEVs/total vessels (P < 0.001) for the occurrence of RPL. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Analyses were performed in first trimester decidual tissues from elective terminations of pregnancy or non-pregnant endometrium samples from patients diagnosed with non-endometrial pathologies including cervical polyps, ovarian cysts and myomas. First trimester decidual tissues may include pregnancies which potentially would have developed placental disorders later in gestation. In addition, our cohort of non-pregnant endometrium may not reflect the endometrial vascular phenotype of healthy women. Finally, determination of immune cell distributions in the patient cohorts studied may be influenced by the different modes of tissue derivation. Pregnancy terminations were performed by surgical aspiration, endometrial tissues were obtained by biopsies and RPL tissues were collected after spontaneous loss of pregnancy. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS In this study, we propose an inherent mechanism by which the endometrium and in particular the decidua control T-cell recruitment. By demonstrating reduced HEV densities and numbers of T cells in decB and decP tissues of RPL samples we further support previous findings reporting an altered vascular phenotype in early pregnancy loss. Altogether, the findings provide important information to further decipher the etiologies of unexplained RPL. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This study was supported by the Austrian Science Fund (P31470 B30 to M.K.) and by the Austrian National Bank (17613ONB to J.P.). There are no competing interests to declare. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Windsperger
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Biology Unit, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sigrid Vondra
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Biology Unit, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreas Ian Lackner
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Biology Unit, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Victoria Kunihs
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Biology Unit, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Peter Haslinger
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Biology Unit, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gudrun Meinhardt
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Biology Unit, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bianca Dietrich
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Biology Unit, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sabine Dekan
- Department of Pathology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Martin Knöfler
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Biology Unit, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Leila Saleh
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Biology Unit, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jürgen Pollheimer
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Biology Unit, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Abu-Raya B, Michalski C, Sadarangani M, Lavoie PM. Maternal Immunological Adaptation During Normal Pregnancy. Front Immunol 2020; 11:575197. [PMID: 33133091 PMCID: PMC7579415 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.575197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 213] [Impact Index Per Article: 53.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The risk and severity of specific infections are increased during pregnancy due to a combination of physiological and immunological changes. Characterizing the maternal immune system during pregnancy is important to understand how the maternal immune system maintains tolerance towards the allogeneic fetus. This may also inform strategies to prevent maternal fatalities due to infections and optimize maternal vaccination to best protect the mother-fetus dyad and the infant after birth. In this review, we describe what is known about the immunological changes that occur during a normal pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bahaa Abu-Raya
- Vaccine Evaluation Center, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Experimental Medicine Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Christina Michalski
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Experimental Medicine Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Manish Sadarangani
- Vaccine Evaluation Center, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Experimental Medicine Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Pascal M Lavoie
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Experimental Medicine Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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29
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Kieffer TEC, Laskewitz A, Vledder A, Scherjon SA, Faas MM, Prins JR. Decidual memory T-cell subsets and memory T-cell stimulatory cytokines in early- and late-onset preeclampsia. Am J Reprod Immunol 2020; 84:e13293. [PMID: 32572999 PMCID: PMC7540032 DOI: 10.1111/aji.13293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Revised: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
PROBLEM Preeclampsia is a major cause of fetal and maternal mortality and morbidity. Disturbed fetal-maternal immune tolerance, and therewith memory T cells, might be involved in its etiology. This study aims to give insight into memory T-cell populations and its associated cytokines in the decidual layers in early-onset preeclampsia (EO-PE) and late-onset preeclampsia (LO-PE). METHOD OF STUDY Lymphocytes were isolated from the decidua parietalis and basalis from EO-PE (n = 6), LO-PE (n = 8) and healthy (n = 15) pregnancies. CD4+ and CD8+ central- (CCR7+ ), effector- (CCR7- ), tissue resident- (CD103+ ), and regulatory- (Foxp3+ ) memory cell (CD45RO+ ) populations and their activation status (CD69+ ) were analyzed using flow cytometry. qRT-PCR analysis was performed on decidua parietalis and basalis biopsies to detect mRNA expression of interferon-gamma, interleukin-1B, IL2, IL6, IL7, IL8, IL10, IL15, and IL23. RESULTS CD4+ central-memory (CM) cell proportions were lower in the decidua parietalis in LO-PE (P < .0001) and EO-PE (P < .01) compared to healthy pregnancies. CD8+ memory (P < .05) and CD8+ CM (P < .01) cell proportions were also lower in the decidua parietalis in EO-PE compared to healthy pregnancies. This was accompanied by higher IL15 (P < .05) and IL23 (P < .05) and lower IL7 (P < .05) mRNA expression in decidua basalis biopsies from EO-PE compared to healthy pregnancies, analyzed by qPCR. CONCLUSION In conclusion, decidual memory T-cell proportions, their activation status, and associated cytokines are altered in preeclampsia and might therefore be involved in fetal-maternal immune tolerance and the pathophysiology of preeclampsia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom E. C. Kieffer
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyUniversity Medical Center GroningenUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Anne Laskewitz
- Division of Medical BiologyDepartment of Pathology and Medical BiologyUniversity Medical Center GroningenUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Annegé Vledder
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyUniversity Medical Center GroningenUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Sicco A. Scherjon
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyUniversity Medical Center GroningenUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Marijke M. Faas
- Division of Medical BiologyDepartment of Pathology and Medical BiologyUniversity Medical Center GroningenUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Jelmer R. Prins
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyUniversity Medical Center GroningenUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
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30
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Tsonis O, Karpathiou G, Tsonis K, Paschopoulos M, Papoudou-Bai A, Kanavaros P. Immune cells in normal pregnancy and gestational trophoblastic diseases. Placenta 2020; 101:90-96. [PMID: 32942146 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2020.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
A healthy pregnancy requires the development of maternal-fetal immune tolerance against the semi-allogeneic fetus. The interactions between the trophoblastic cells and the maternal immune cells (p.e., natural killer cells, T cells, macrophages, dendritic cells and B-cells) are important for the development of the maternal-fetal immune tolerance and the placental growth and function. These interactions are mediated by cell to cell contact and secreted molecules such as cytokines, chemokines, angiogenic factors and growth factors. The maternal immune cells are present in normal non-pregnant and pregnant endometrium and there are several lines of evidence based on immunohistochemical and RNA sequencing data that the decidual immune cells and immune-related pathways display alterations in GTD, which may have pathogenetic and clinical significance. The present review focuses on the usefulness of the immunohistochemical analysis which provides multiparametric in situ information regarding the numbers, the immunophenotypes and the immunotopographical distributions of the decidual immune cells in tissue sections from normal pregnancy and GTD. We also discuss the significance of the immunohistochemical information in order to gain insight in the putative mechanisms explaining the alterations of the decidual immune cells in GTD and the potential implications of these alterations in the pathogenesis and the clinical behavior of GTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orestis Tsonis
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
| | | | - Klarisa Tsonis
- Department of Anatomy-Histology-Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
| | - Minas Paschopoulos
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
| | - Alexandra Papoudou-Bai
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
| | - Panagiotis Kanavaros
- Department of Anatomy-Histology-Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
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31
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Calvani M, Dabraio A, Subbiani A, Buonvicino D, De Gregorio V, Ciullini Mannurita S, Pini A, Nardini P, Favre C, Filippi L. β3-Adrenoceptors as Putative Regulator of Immune Tolerance in Cancer and Pregnancy. Front Immunol 2020; 11:2098. [PMID: 32983164 PMCID: PMC7492666 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.02098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the mechanisms of immune tolerance is currently one of the most important challenges of scientific research. Pregnancy affects the immune system balance, leading the host to tolerate embryo alloantigens. Previous reports demonstrated that β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) signaling promotes immune tolerance by modulation of NK and Treg, mainly through the activation of β2-ARs, but recently we have demonstrated that also β3-ARs induce an immune-tolerant phenotype in mice bearing melanoma. In this report, we demonstrate that β3-ARs support host immune tolerance in the maternal microenvironment by modulating the same immune cells populations as recently demonstrated in cancer. Considering that β3-ARs are modulated by oxygen levels, we hypothesize that hypoxia, through the upregulation of β3-AR, promotes the biological shift toward a tolerant immunophenotype and that this is the same trick that embryo and cancer use to create an aura of immune-tolerance in a competent immune environment. This study confirms the analogies between fetal development and tumor progression and suggests that the expression of β3-ARs represents one of the strategies to induce fetal and tumor immune tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maura Calvani
- Department of Paediatric Haematology-Oncology, A. Meyer University Children's Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Annalisa Dabraio
- Department of Paediatric Haematology-Oncology, A. Meyer University Children's Hospital, Florence, Italy.,Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Angela Subbiani
- Department of Paediatric Haematology-Oncology, A. Meyer University Children's Hospital, Florence, Italy.,Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Veronica De Gregorio
- Department of Paediatric Haematology-Oncology, A. Meyer University Children's Hospital, Florence, Italy.,Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Sara Ciullini Mannurita
- Department of Paediatric Haematology-Oncology, A. Meyer University Children's Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Alessandro Pini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Patrizia Nardini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Claudio Favre
- Department of Paediatric Haematology-Oncology, A. Meyer University Children's Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Luca Filippi
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Medical Surgical Feto-Neonatal Department, A. Meyer University Children's Hospital, Florence, Italy
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32
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Jafarpour R, Pashangzadeh S, Mehdizadeh S, Bayatipoor H, Shojaei Z, Motallebnezhad M. Functional significance of lymphocytes in pregnancy and lymphocyte immunotherapy in infertility: A comprehensive review and update. Int Immunopharmacol 2020; 87:106776. [PMID: 32682255 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2020.106776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
During pregnancy, the fetal-maternal interface underlies several dynamic alterations to permit the fetus to be cultivated and developed in the uterus, in spite of being identifies by the maternal immune system. A large variety of decidual leukocyte populations, including natural killer cells, NKT cells, innate lymphoid cells, dendritic cells, B cells, T cells, subpopulations of helper T cells play a vital role in controlling the trophoblast invasion, angiogenesis as well as vascular remodeling. In contrast, several regulatory immunosuppressive mechanisms, including regulatory T cells, regulatory B cells, several cytokines and mediators are involved in maintain the homeostasis of immune system in the fetal-maternal interface. Nonetheless, aberrant alterations in the balance of immune inflammatory or immunosuppressive arms have been associated with various pregnancy losses and infertilities. As a result, numerous strategies have been developed to revers dysregulated balance of immune players to increase the chance of successful pregnancy. Lymphocyte immunotherapy has been developed through utilization of peripheral white blood cells of the husband or others and administered into the mother to confer an immune tolerance for embryo's antigens. However, the results have not always been promising, implying to further investigations to improve the approach. This review attempts to clarify the involvement of lymphocytes in contributing to the pregnancy outcome and the potential of lymphocyte immunotherapy in treatment of infertilities with dysregulated immune system basis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roghayeh Jafarpour
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Immunology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Salar Pashangzadeh
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Immunology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saber Mehdizadeh
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Immunology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hashem Bayatipoor
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Immunology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zeinab Shojaei
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Immunology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Morteza Motallebnezhad
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Immunology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Student Research Committee, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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33
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Role of Human Leukocyte Antigens at the Feto-Maternal Interface in Normal and Pathological Pregnancy: An Update. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21134756. [PMID: 32635423 PMCID: PMC7370064 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21134756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The successful maternal tolerance of the semi-allogeneic fetus provides an apparent immunologic paradox. Indeed, deep invasion of placental trophoblast cells into maternal uterine tissue and the following growth of the fetus have to be tolerated by a pregnant woman’s immune system. Among the various possible protective mechanisms that may be involved in human pregnancy, the expression of a non-classical pattern of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I molecules and the complete lack of expression of HLA class II molecules in placental tissues seem to be the most relevant mechanisms of fetal escape from maternal immune recognition. The importance of HLA molecules in fetal toleration by the maternal immune system is highlighted by pregnancy complications occurring in cases of abnormal HLA molecule expression at the maternal–fetal interface. In this review, we summarize evidences about the role of placental HLA molecules in normal and pathological pregnancies.
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34
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Krop J, Heidt S, Claas FHJ, Eikmans M. Regulatory T Cells in Pregnancy: It Is Not All About FoxP3. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1182. [PMID: 32655556 PMCID: PMC7324675 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In pregnancy, the semi-allogeneic fetus needs to be tolerated by the mother's immune system. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a prominent role in this process. Novel technologies allow for in-depth phenotyping of previously unidentified immune cell subsets, which has resulted in the appreciation of a vast heterogeneity of Treg subsets. Similar to other immunological events, there appears to be great diversity within the Treg population during pregnancy, both at the maternal-fetal interface as in the peripheral blood. Different Treg subsets have distinct phenotypes and various ways of functioning. Furthermore, the frequency of individual Treg subsets varies throughout gestation and is altered in aberrant pregnancies. This suggests that distinct Treg subsets play a role at different time points of gestation and that their role in maintaining healthy pregnancy is crucial, as reflected for instance by their reduced frequency in women with recurrent pregnancy loss. Since pregnancy is essential for the existence of mankind, multiple immune regulatory mechanisms and cell types are likely at play to assure successful pregnancy. Therefore, it is important to understand the complete microenvironment of the decidua, preferably in the context of the whole immune cell repertoire of the pregnant woman. So far, most studies have focused on a single mechanism or cell type, which often is the FoxP3 positive regulatory T cell when studying immune regulation. In this review, we instead focus on the contribution of FoxP3 negative Treg subsets to the decidual microenvironment and their possible role in pregnancy complications. Their phenotype, function, and effect in pregnancy are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliette Krop
- Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Sebastiaan Heidt
- Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Frans H J Claas
- Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Michael Eikmans
- Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
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35
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Morita K, Tsuda S, Kobayashi E, Hamana H, Tsuda K, Shima T, Nakashima A, Ushijima A, Kishi H, Saito S. Analysis of TCR Repertoire and PD-1 Expression in Decidual and Peripheral CD8 + T Cells Reveals Distinct Immune Mechanisms in Miscarriage and Preeclampsia. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1082. [PMID: 32582176 PMCID: PMC7283903 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
CD8+ T cells, the most abundant T cell subset in the decidua, play a critical role in the maintenance of pregnancy. The majority of decidual CD8+ T cells have an effector memory phenotype, while those in the peripheral blood display a naive phenotype. An increased amount of highly differentiated CD8+ T cells in the decidua indicates local antigen stimulation and expansion, albeit these CD8+ T cells are suppressed. In decidual CD8+ T cells, co-inhibitory molecules such as PD-1, TIM-3, LAG-3, and CTLA-4 are upregulated, reflecting the suppression of cytotoxicity. Previous studies established the importance of the PD-1/PD-L1 interaction for feto-maternal tolerance. CD8+ T cells could directly recognize fetal-specific antigens, such as HLA-C, expressed by trophoblasts. However, although fetal-specific CD8+ T cells have been reported, their TCR repertoires have not been identified. In this study, we analyzed the TCR repertoires of effector memory CD8+ T cells (CD8+ EM cells) and naive CD8+ T cells (CD8+ N cells) in the decidua and peripheral blood of women with normal or complicated pregnancy and examined PD-1 expression at a single-cell level to verify whether antigen-specific CD8+ T cells accumulate in the decidua and to identify immunological differences related to the suppression of antigen-specific CD8+ T cells between normal pregnancy, miscarriage, and preeclampsia. We observed that some TCRβ repertoires, which might recognize fetal or placental antigens, were clonally expanded. The population size of clonally expanded CD8+ EM cells was higher in the decidua than in the peripheral blood. CD8+ EM cells began to express PD-1 during the course of normal pregnancy. We found that the total proportion of decidual CD8+ EM cells not expressing PD-1 was increased both in miscarriage and in preeclampsia cases, although a different mechanism was responsible for this increase. The amount of cytotoxic CD8+ EM cells increased in cases of miscarriage, whereas the expression of PD-1 in clonally expanded CD8+ EM cells was downregulated in preeclampsia cases. These results demonstrated that decidual CD8+ EM cells were able to recognize fetal-specific antigens at the feto-maternal interface and could easily induce fetal rejection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiko Morita
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Sayaka Tsuda
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Eiji Kobayashi
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Academic Assembly, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Hamana
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Academic Assembly, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Kei Tsuda
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Tomoko Shima
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Akitoshi Nakashima
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Akemi Ushijima
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Kishi
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Academic Assembly, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
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Orlovic Vlaho M, Tomic V, Vukojevic K, Vasilj A, Pejic R, Lesko J, Soljic V. CD25 + FOXP3 + and CD4 + CD25 + cells distribution in decidual departments of women with severe and mild pre-eclampsia: Comparison with healthy pregnancies. Am J Reprod Immunol 2020; 84:e13281. [PMID: 32485016 DOI: 10.1111/aji.13281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2019] [Revised: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
PROBLEM The aim of this study was to quantify and compare the distribution of regulatory CD25+ FOXP3+ and activated CD4+ CD25+ T cells in decidua basalis and parietalis of severe and mild pre-eclampsia (PE) to normal healthy pregnancies. METHOD OF STUDY Decidual tissue (decidua basalis and parietalis) of 13 women with mild PE, 15 women with severe PE, and 19 women with healthy term pregnancies were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and double immunofluorescence. RESULTS The total number of CD25+ FOXP3+ cells/mm2 in decidua basalis was decreased in the severe and mild PE versus normal pregnancy group. The total number of CD4+ CD25+ cells/mm2 in decidua basalis was decreased in the severe PE versus normal pregnancy group. The number of CD25+ FOXP3+ and CD4+ CD25+ cells in decidua parietalis was decreased in both PE groups. CONCLUSION Our data suggest that immunological changes of PE reflect on decidua basalis and parietalis and emphasize the importance of characterizing T cells in both decidual departments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Orlovic Vlaho
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology University Clinical Hospital Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Vajdana Tomic
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology University Clinical Hospital Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina.,Faculty of Health Studies, University of Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Katarina Vukojevic
- Laboratory of Morphology, Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, University of Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina.,Laboratory for Early Human Development, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, University of Split, Split, Croatia
| | - Anja Vasilj
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology University Clinical Hospital Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Renato Pejic
- University Clinical Hospital Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Josip Lesko
- University Clinical Hospital Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Violeta Soljic
- Laboratory of Morphology, Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, University of Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
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37
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Maternal and fetal T cells in term pregnancy and preterm labor. Cell Mol Immunol 2020; 17:693-704. [PMID: 32467619 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-020-0471-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy is a state of immunological balance during which the mother and the developing fetus must tolerate each other while maintaining sufficient immunocompetence to ward off potential threats. The site of closest contact between the mother and fetus is the decidua, which represents the maternal-fetal interface. Many of the immune cell subsets present at the maternal-fetal interface have been well described; however, the importance of the maternal T cells in this compartment during late gestation and its complications, such as preterm labor and birth, has only recently been established. Moreover, pioneer and recent studies have indicated that fetal T cells are activated in different subsets of preterm labor and may elicit distinct inflammatory responses in the amniotic cavity, leading to preterm birth. In this review, we describe the established and proposed roles for maternal T cells at the maternal-fetal interface in normal term parturition, as well as the demonstrated contributions of such cells to the pathological process of preterm labor and birth. We also summarize the current knowledge of and proposed roles for fetal T cells in the pathophysiology of the preterm labor syndrome. It is our hope that this review provides a solid conceptual framework highlighting the importance of maternal and fetal T cells in late gestation and catalyzes new research questions that can further scientific understanding of these cells and their role in preterm labor and birth, the leading cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity worldwide.
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Levenson D, Romero R, Garcia-Flores V, Miller D, Xu Y, Sahi A, Hassan SS, Gomez-Lopez N. The effects of advanced maternal age on T-cell subsets at the maternal-fetal interface prior to term labor and in the offspring: a mouse study. Clin Exp Immunol 2020; 201:58-75. [PMID: 32279324 DOI: 10.1111/cei.13437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Women who conceive at 35 years of age or older, commonly known as advanced maternal age, have a higher risk of facing parturition complications and their children have an increased risk of developing diseases later in life. However, the immunological mechanisms underlying these pathological processes have yet to be established. To fill this gap in knowledge, using a murine model and immunophenotyping, we determined the effect of advanced maternal age on the main cellular branch of adaptive immunity, T cells, at the maternal-fetal interface and in the offspring. We report that advanced maternal age impaired the process of labor at term, inducing dystocia and delaying the timing of delivery. Advanced maternal age diminished the number of specific proinflammatory T-cell subsets [T helper type 1 (Th1): CD4+ IFN-γ+ , CD8+ IFN-γ+ and Th9: CD4+ IL-9+ ], as well as CD4+ regulatory T cells (CD4+ CD25+ FoxP3+ T cells), at the maternal-fetal interface prior to term labor. Advanced maternal age also altered fetal growth and survival of the offspring in early life. In addition, infants born to advanced-age mothers had alterations in the T-cell repertoire but not in CD71+ erythroid cells (CD3- CD71+ TER119+ cells). This study provides insight into the immune alterations observed at the maternal-fetal interface of advanced-age mothers and their offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Levenson
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - R Romero
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.,Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA.,Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - V Garcia-Flores
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - D Miller
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Y Xu
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - A Sahi
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - S S Hassan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.,Office of Women's Health, Integrative Biosciences Center, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - N Gomez-Lopez
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
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39
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Shigeta N, Kumasawa K, Tanaka A, Badger Wing J, Nakamura H, Sakaguchi S, Kimura T. Dynamics of effector and naïve Regulatory T cells throughout pregnancy. J Reprod Immunol 2020; 140:103135. [PMID: 32339846 DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2020.103135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2019] [Revised: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Regulatory T (Treg) cells are a specialized subset of T cells possessing immunosuppressive functions indispensable for the maintenance of self-tolerance and pregnancy. However, how functional Treg cells dynamically change and are engaged in feto-maternal tolerance during human pregnancy is still unclear. Recent studies have shown that functionally distinct and immunosuppressive subsets of Treg cells, i.e., effector Treg (eTreg) and naïve Treg (nTreg) cells, can be delineated by combinations of molecular markers and that their proportions differ in normal and disease states. In this study, we examined how the proportion of eTreg and nTreg cells in peripheral blood changes in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy and the postpartum period. During the 2nd trimester the proportion of eTreg cells was reduced while nTreg cells was increased. This pattern was maintained throughout the 3rd trimester of pregnancy. The kinetics of eTreg reduction highly correlated with migration of eTreg cells into feto-maternal interface while stable nTreg proportion paralleled with their expression of the anti-apoptotic molecule Bcl-2 and production of thymic emigrant naïve Treg cells. These results suggest that further studies on divergence of functional Treg proportions will be helpful for predicting instability of pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoya Shigeta
- Department of obstetrics and gynecology, Osaka university, 1-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan; Immunology frontier research center, Osaka university, 1-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Keiichi Kumasawa
- Department of obstetrics and gynecology, Osaka university, 1-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan; Department of obstetrics and gynecology, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
| | - Atsushi Tanaka
- Immunology frontier research center, Osaka university, 1-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - James Badger Wing
- Immunology frontier research center, Osaka university, 1-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Hitomi Nakamura
- Department of obstetrics and gynecology, Osaka university, 1-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Shimon Sakaguchi
- Immunology frontier research center, Osaka university, 1-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Tadashi Kimura
- Department of obstetrics and gynecology, Osaka university, 1-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
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40
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Cappelletti M, Presicce P, Kallapur SG. Immunobiology of Acute Chorioamnionitis. Front Immunol 2020; 11:649. [PMID: 32373122 PMCID: PMC7177011 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2019] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute chorioamnionitis is characterized by neutrophilic infiltration and inflammation at the maternal fetal interface. It is a relatively common complication of pregnancy and can have devastating consequences including preterm labor, maternal infections, fetal infection/inflammation, fetal lung, brain, and gastrointestinal tract injury. In this review, we will discuss current understanding of the pathogenesis, immunobiology, and mechanisms of this condition. Most commonly, acute chorioamnionitis is a result of ascending infection with relatively low-virulence organisms such as the Ureaplasma species. Furthermore, recent vaginal microbiome studies suggest that there is a link between vaginal dysbiosis, vaginal inflammation, and ascending infection. Although less common, microorganisms invading the maternal-fetal interface via hematogenous route (e.g., Zika virus, Cytomegalovirus, and Listeria) can cause placental villitis and severe fetal inflammation and injury. We will provide an overview of the knowledge gleaned from different animal models of acute chorioamnionitis and the role of different immune cells in different maternal-fetal compartments. Lastly, we will discuss how infectious agents can break the maternal tolerance of fetal allograft during pregnancy and highlight the novel future therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Cappelletti
- Divisions of Neonatology and Developmental Biology, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Pietro Presicce
- Divisions of Neonatology and Developmental Biology, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Suhas G Kallapur
- Divisions of Neonatology and Developmental Biology, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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41
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Zhao Y, Zheng Q, Jin L. The Role of B7 Family Molecules in Maternal-Fetal Immunity. Front Immunol 2020; 11:458. [PMID: 32265918 PMCID: PMC7105612 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy is a complex but well-arranged process, and a healthy fetus requires immune privilege and surveillance in the presence of paternally derived antigens. Maternal and fetal cells interact at the maternal–fetal interface. The upregulation and downregulation of maternal immunity executed by the leukocyte population predominantly depend on the activity of decidual natural killer cells and trophoblasts and are further modulated by a series of duplex signals. The B7 family, which consists of B7-1, B7-2, B7-H1, B7-DC, B7-H2, B7-H3, B7-H4, B7-H5, BTNL2, B7-H6, and B7-H7, is one of the most characterized and widely distributed signaling molecule superfamilies and conducts both stimulatory and inhibitory signals through separate interactions. In particular, the roles of B7-1, B7-2, B7-H1, and their corresponding receptors in the progression of normal pregnancy and some pregnancy complications have been extensively studied. Together with the TCR–MHC complex, B7 and its receptors play a critical role in cell proliferation and cytokine secretion. Depending on this ligand–receptor crosstalk, the balance between the tolerance and rejection of the fetus is perfectly maintained. This review aims to provide an overview of the current knowledge of the B7 family and its functions in regulating maternal–fetal immunity through individual interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongbo Zhao
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qingliang Zheng
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Liping Jin
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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42
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Gomez-Lopez N, Romero R, Hassan SS, Bhatti G, Berry SM, Kusanovic JP, Pacora P, Tarca AL. The Cellular Transcriptome in the Maternal Circulation During Normal Pregnancy: A Longitudinal Study. Front Immunol 2019; 10:2863. [PMID: 31921132 PMCID: PMC6928201 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy represents a unique immunological state in which the mother adapts to tolerate the semi-allogenic conceptus; yet, the cellular dynamics in the maternal circulation are poorly understood. Using exon-level expression profiling of up to six longitudinal whole blood samples from 49 pregnant women, we undertook a systems biology analysis of the cellular transcriptome dynamics and its correlation with the plasma proteome. We found that: (1) chromosome 14 was the most enriched in transcripts differentially expressed throughout normal pregnancy; (2) the strongest expression changes followed three distinct longitudinal patterns, with genes related to host immune response (e.g., MMP8, DEFA1B, DEFA4, and LTF) showing a steady increase in expression from 10 to 40 weeks of gestation; (3) multiple biological processes and pathways related to immunity and inflammation were modulated during gestation; (4) genes changing with gestation were among those specific to T cells, B cells, CD71+ erythroid cells, natural killer cells, and endothelial cells, as defined based on the GNF Gene Expression Atlas; (5) the average expression of mRNA signatures of T cells, B cells, and erythroid cells followed unique patterns during gestation; (6) the correlation between mRNA and protein abundance was higher for mRNAs that were differentially expressed throughout gestation than for those that were not, and significant mRNA-protein correlations were observed for genes part of the T-cell signature. In summary, unique changes in immune-related genes were discovered by longitudinally assessing the cellular transcriptome in the maternal circulation throughout normal pregnancy, and positive correlations were noted between the cellular transcriptome and plasma proteome for specific genes/proteins. These findings provide insights into the immunobiology of normal pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nardhy Gomez-Lopez
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Roberto Romero
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
- Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, MI, United States
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Sonia S. Hassan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
- Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Gaurav Bhatti
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Stanley M. Berry
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Juan Pedro Kusanovic
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, United States
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Center for Research and Innovation in Maternal-Fetal Medicine (CIMAF), Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sótero del Río Hospital, Santiago, Chile
| | - Percy Pacora
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Adi L. Tarca
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
- Department of Computer Science, Wayne State University College of Engineering, Detroit, MI, United States
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43
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Papúchová H, Meissner TB, Li Q, Strominger JL, Tilburgs T. The Dual Role of HLA-C in Tolerance and Immunity at the Maternal-Fetal Interface. Front Immunol 2019; 10:2730. [PMID: 31921098 PMCID: PMC6913657 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
To establish a healthy pregnancy, maternal immune cells must tolerate fetal allo-antigens and remain competent to respond to infections both systemically and in placental tissues. Extravillous trophoblasts (EVT) are the most invasive cells of extra-embryonic origin to invade uterine tissues and express polymorphic Human Leucocyte Antigen-C (HLA-C) of both maternal and paternal origin. Thus, HLA-C is a key molecule that can elicit allogeneic immune responses by maternal T and NK cells and for which maternal-fetal immune tolerance needs to be established. HLA-C is also the only classical MHC molecule expressed by EVT that can present a wide variety of peptides to maternal memory T cells and establish protective immunity. The expression of paternal HLA-C by EVT provides a target for maternal NK and T cells, whereas HLA-C expression levels may influence how this response is shaped. This dual function of HLA-C requires tight transcriptional regulation of its expression to balance induction of tolerance and immunity. Here, we critically review new insights into: (i) the mechanisms controlling expression of HLA-C by EVT, (ii) the mechanisms by which decidual NK cells, effector T cells and regulatory T cells recognize HLA-C allo-antigens, and (iii) immune recognition of pathogen derived antigens in context of HLA-C.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henrieta Papúchová
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Torsten B Meissner
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States.,Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Qin Li
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Jack L Strominger
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Tamara Tilburgs
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States.,Division of Immunobiology, Center for Inflammation and Tolerance, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
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44
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Monin L, Whettlock EM, Male V. Immune responses in the human female reproductive tract. Immunology 2019; 160:106-115. [PMID: 31630394 DOI: 10.1111/imm.13136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Revised: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 10/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Mucosal surfaces are key interfaces between the host and its environment, but also constitute ports of entry for numerous pathogens. The gut and lung mucosae act as points of nutrient and gas exchange, respectively, but the physiological purpose of the female reproductive tract (FRT) is to allow implantation and development of the fetus. Our understanding of immune responses in the FRT has traditionally lagged behind our grasp of the situation at other mucosal sites, but recently reproductive immunologists have begun to make rapid progress in this challenging area. Here, we review current knowledge of immune responses in the human FRT and their heterogeneity within and between compartments. In the commensal-rich vagina, the immune system must allow the growth of beneficial microbes, whereas the key challenge in the uterus is allowing the growth of the semi-allogeneic fetus. In both compartments, these objectives must be balanced with the need to eliminate pathogens. Our developing understanding of immune responses in the FRT will help us develop interventions to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and to improve outcomes of pregnancy for mothers and babies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leticia Monin
- Immunosurveillance Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Emily M Whettlock
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Victoria Male
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, UK
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45
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Flippe L, Bézie S, Anegon I, Guillonneau C. Future prospects for CD8 + regulatory T cells in immune tolerance. Immunol Rev 2019; 292:209-224. [PMID: 31593314 PMCID: PMC7027528 DOI: 10.1111/imr.12812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
CD8+ Tregs have been long described and significant progresses have been made about their phenotype, their functional mechanisms, and their suppressive ability compared to conventional CD4+ Tregs. They are now at the dawn of their clinical use. In this review, we will summarize their phenotypic characteristics, their mechanisms of action, the similarities, differences and synergies between CD8+ and CD4+ Tregs, and we will discuss the biology, development and induction of CD8+ Tregs, their manufacturing for clinical use, considering open questions/uncertainties and future technically accessible improvements notably through genetic modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Léa Flippe
- Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie UMR 1064, INSERM, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France.,Institut de Transplantation Urologie Néphrologie (ITUN), CHU Nantes, Nantes, France.,LabEx IGO "Immunotherapy, Graft, Oncology", Nantes, France
| | - Séverine Bézie
- Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie UMR 1064, INSERM, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France.,Institut de Transplantation Urologie Néphrologie (ITUN), CHU Nantes, Nantes, France.,LabEx IGO "Immunotherapy, Graft, Oncology", Nantes, France
| | - Ignacio Anegon
- Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie UMR 1064, INSERM, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France.,Institut de Transplantation Urologie Néphrologie (ITUN), CHU Nantes, Nantes, France.,LabEx IGO "Immunotherapy, Graft, Oncology", Nantes, France
| | - Carole Guillonneau
- Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie UMR 1064, INSERM, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France.,Institut de Transplantation Urologie Néphrologie (ITUN), CHU Nantes, Nantes, France.,LabEx IGO "Immunotherapy, Graft, Oncology", Nantes, France
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46
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van Bentem K, Lashley E, Bos M, Eikmans M, Heidt S, Claas F, le Cessie S, van der Hoorn ML. Relating the number of human leucocytes antigen mismatches to pregnancy complications in oocyte donation pregnancies: study protocol for a prospective multicentre cohort study (DONOR study). BMJ Open 2019; 9:e027469. [PMID: 31345965 PMCID: PMC6661658 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-027469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2018] [Revised: 04/05/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Oocyte donation (OD) enables women with reproductive failure to conceive. Compared with naturally conceived (NC) and in vitrofertilisation (IVF) pregnancies, OD pregnancies are associated with a higher risk of pregnancy complications. The allogeneic nature of the fetus in OD pregnancies possibly plays a role in the development of these complications. The objective of the current study is therefore to study the number and nature of human leucocyte antigen (HLA) mismatches between fetus and mother and its association with the development of hypertensive pregnancy complications. METHODS AND ANALYSIS In this prospective multicentre cohort study, 200 patients visiting one of the 11 participating fertility centres in the Netherlands to perform OD or embryo donation or surrogacy will be invited to participate. These patients will be included as the exposed group. In addition, 146 patients with a NC pregnancy and 146 patients who applied for non-donor IVF are included as non-exposed subjects. These groups are frequency matched on age and ethnicity and only singleton pregnancies will be included. The primary clinical outcome of the study is the development of hypertensive disease during pregnancy. Secondary outcomes are the severity of the pre-eclampsia, time to development of pre-eclampsia and development of other pregnancy complications. The association of high number of HLA mismatches (>5) between mother and fetus will be determined and related to clinical outcome and pregnancy complication. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION This study received ethical approval from the medical ethics committee in the Leiden University Medical Centre, the Netherlands (P16.048, ABR NL56308.058.16). Study findings will be presented at (inter) national conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim van Bentem
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Eileen Lashley
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Manon Bos
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Michael Eikmans
- Department of Immunohematology and Bloodtransfusion, Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Sebastiaan Heidt
- Department of Immunohematology and Bloodtransfusion, Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Frans Claas
- Department of Immunohematology and Bloodtransfusion, Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Saskia le Cessie
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum, Leiden, The Netherlands
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The appropriate frequency and function of decidual Tim-3 +CTLA-4 +CD8 + T cells are important in maintaining normal pregnancy. Cell Death Dis 2019; 10:407. [PMID: 31138782 PMCID: PMC6538701 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-019-1642-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2019] [Revised: 04/30/2019] [Accepted: 05/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Maternal decidual CD8+ T (dCD8+ T) cells must integrate the antithetical demands of maternal–fetal tolerance and anti-viral immunity to establish a successful pregnancy. T-cell immunoglobulin mucin-3 (Tim-3) and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) are two important co-inhibitory molecules that regulating CD8+ T cells responses during infection and tumor. In the present study, we examined the co-expression of Tim-3 and CTLA-4 on CD8+ T cells during pregnancy and found the higher frequency of Tim-3+CTLA-4+dCD8+ T cells in response to trophoblasts. This Tim-3+CTLA-4+dCD8+ T cells subset showed an active status and produced more anti-inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, the decreased number and altered function of Tim-3+CTLA-4+dCD8+ T cells correlated to miscarriage. Combined blocking Tim-3 and CTLA-4 pathways were highly effective in inhibiting the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines and were detrimental to the maintenance of pregnancy. Together, these findings supported that Tim-3 and CTLA-4 pathways might play positive roles in the establishment and/or maintenance of maternal–fetal tolerance so to promote the maintenance of normal pregnancy. So the reproductive safety must be considered, especially when anti-Tim-3/CTLA-4 antibody (and other immune checkpoint inhibitors) are used in pregnancy.
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Exhausted and Senescent T Cells at the Maternal-Fetal Interface in Preterm and Term Labor. J Immunol Res 2019; 2019:3128010. [PMID: 31263712 PMCID: PMC6556261 DOI: 10.1155/2019/3128010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 02/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Successful pregnancy requires a tightly-regulated equilibrium of immune cell interactions at the maternal-fetal interface (i.e., the decidual tissues), which plays a central role in the inflammatory process of labor. Most of the innate immune cells in this compartment have been well characterized; however, adaptive immune cells are still under investigation. Herein, we performed immunophenotyping of the decidua basalis and decidua parietalis to determine whether exhausted and senescent T cells are present at the maternal-fetal interface and whether the presence of pathological (i.e., preterm) or physiological (i.e., term) labor and/or placental inflammation alter such adaptive immune cells. In addition, decidual exhausted T cells were sorted to test their functional status. We found that (1) exhausted and senescent T cells were present at the maternal-fetal interface and predominantly expressed an effector memory phenotype, (2) exhausted CD4+ T cells increased in the decidua parietalis as gestational age progressed, (3) exhausted CD4+ and CD8+ T cells decreased in the decidua basalis of women who underwent labor at term compared to those without labor, (4) exhausted CD4+ T cells declined with the presence of placental inflammation in the decidua basalis of women with preterm labor, (5) exhausted CD8+ T cells decreased with the presence of placental inflammation in the decidua basalis of women who underwent labor at term, (6) both senescent CD4+ and CD8+ T cells declined with the presence of placental inflammation in the decidua basalis of women who underwent preterm labor, and (7) decidual exhausted T cells produced IFNγ and TNFα upon in vitro stimulation. Collectively, these findings indicate that exhausted and senescent T cells are present at the human maternal-fetal interface and undergo alterations in a subset of women either with labor at term or preterm labor and placental inflammation. Importantly, decidual T cell function can be restored upon stimulation.
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Kieffer TEC, Laskewitz A, Scherjon SA, Faas MM, Prins JR. Memory T Cells in Pregnancy. Front Immunol 2019; 10:625. [PMID: 31001255 PMCID: PMC6455355 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2019] [Accepted: 03/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Adaptations of the maternal immune response are necessary for pregnancy success. Insufficient immune adaption is associated with pregnancy pathologies such as infertility, recurrent miscarriage, fetal growth restriction, spontaneous preterm birth, and preeclampsia. The maternal immune system is continuously exposed to paternal-fetal antigens; through semen exposure from before pregnancy, through fetal cell exposure in pregnancy, and through microchimerism after pregnancy. This results in the generation of paternal-fetal antigen specific memory T cells. Memory T cells have the ability to remember previously encountered antigens to elicit a quicker, more substantial and focused immune response upon antigen reencounter. Such fetal antigen specific memory T cells could be unfavorable in pregnancy as they could potentially drive fetal rejection. However, knowledge on memory T cells in pregnancy has shown that these cells might play a favorable role in fetal-maternal tolerance rather than rejection of the fetus. In recent years, various aspects of immunologic memory in pregnancy have been elucidated and the relevance and working mechanisms of paternal-fetal antigen specific memory T cells in pregnancy have been evaluated. The data indicate that a delicate balance of memory T cells seems necessary for reproductive success and that immunologic memory in reproduction might not be harmful for pregnancy. This review provides an overview of the different memory T cell subtypes and their function in the physiology and in complications of pregnancy. Current findings in the field and possible therapeutic targets are discussed. The findings of our review raise new research questions for further studies regarding the role of memory T cells in immune-associated pregnancy complications. These studies are needed for the identification of possible targets related to memory mechanisms for studies on preventive therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom E C Kieffer
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Anne Laskewitz
- Division of Medical Biology, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Sicco A Scherjon
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Marijke M Faas
- Division of Medical Biology, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Jelmer R Prins
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
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Leng Y, Romero R, Xu Y, Galaz J, Slutsky R, Arenas-Hernandez M, Garcia-Flores V, Motomura K, Hassan SS, Reboldi A, Gomez-Lopez N. Are B cells altered in the decidua of women with preterm or term labor? Am J Reprod Immunol 2019; 81:e13102. [PMID: 30768818 DOI: 10.1111/aji.13102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Revised: 01/26/2019] [Accepted: 02/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
PROBLEM The immunophenotype of B cells at the maternal-fetal interface (decidua) in labor at term and preterm labor is poorly understood. METHOD OF STUDY Decidual tissues were obtained from women with preterm or term labor and from non-labor gestational age-matched controls. Immunophenotyping of decidual B cells was performed using multicolor flow cytometry. RESULTS (a) In the absence of acute or chronic chorioamnionitis, total B cells were more abundant in the decidua parietalis of women who delivered preterm than in those who delivered at term, regardless of the presence of labor; (b) decidual transitional and naïve B cells were the most abundant B-cell subsets; (c) decidual B1 B cells were increased in women with either labor at term or preterm labor and chronic chorioamnionitis compared to those without this placental lesion; (d) decidual transitional B cells were reduced in women with preterm labor compared to those without labor; (e) naïve, class-switched, and non-class-switched B cells in the decidual tissues underwent mild alterations with the process of preterm labor; (f) decidual plasmablasts seemed to increase in women with either labor at term or preterm labor with chronic chorioamnionitis; and (g) decidual B cells expressed high levels of interleukin (IL)-12, IL-6, and/or IL-35. CONCLUSION Total B cells are not increased with the presence of preterm or term labor; yet, specific subsets (B1 and plasmablasts) undergo alterations in women with chronic chorioamnionitis. Therefore, B cells are solely implicated in the pathological process of preterm labor in a subset of women with chronic inflammation of the placenta. These findings provide insight into the immunology of the maternal-fetal interface in preterm and term labor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaozhu Leng
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Roberto Romero
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.,Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan.,Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Yi Xu
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Jose Galaz
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Rebecca Slutsky
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan
| | - Marcia Arenas-Hernandez
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Valeria Garcia-Flores
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Kenichiro Motomura
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Sonia S Hassan
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan.,Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Andrea Reboldi
- Department of Pathology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Nardhy Gomez-Lopez
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan.,C.S. Mott Center for Human Growth and Development, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan.,Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Biochemistry, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
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