ABSTRACT
Objective To examine the effects of Toxoplasma gondii infection on the proportion, quantity, differentiation and function of mouse and human uterine natural killer cells (uNK cells), so as to explore the role of uNK cells in abortion of early pregnancy caused by T. gondii infection. Methods Pregnant mice were injected intraperitoneally with T. gondii tachyzoites on day 6.5 of pregnancy, and the abortion mouse model caused by T. gondii infections was constructed. Mouse uterine lymphocytes were isolated on day 9.5 of pregnancy. Human uterine lymphocytes were isolated from fresh human decidual specimens after abortion in normal early pregnancy and co-cultured with tachyzoites of the T. gondii RH strain for 48 h at T. gondii/uterine lymphocytes ratios of 0.5:1, 1:1 and 2:1. The phenotypes of mouse uNK cells (CD122, NK1.1, DX5) and human uNK cells (CD3, CD56, CD11b, CD27) and the expression of intracellular cytokines interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were detected by flow cytometry. Mouse and human uNK cells were sorted by magnetic beads, and the cytotoxicity of uNK cells was tested using the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay at effector/target cell ratios of 1:1, 5:1, 10:1 and 20:1 with mouse or human uNK cells as effector cells and mouse YAC-1 cells or human K562 cells as target cells. Results On day 9.5 of pregnancy, the mouse abortion rate was significantly higher in the infected group than that in the control group (83.02% vs. 3.51%; χ2 = 71.359, P < 0.001). Significantly lower absolute number of uNK cells [(4 547 ± 1 610) cells/mouse vs. (8 978 ± 3 339) cells/mouse; U = 2.000, P < 0.05], lower NK1.1 expression on uNK cell surface [(74.53 ± 8.37)% vs. (93.00 ± 1.11)%; U = 0.000, P < 0.05], higher proportion of NK1.1-DX5-cells [(20.10 ± 8.03)% vs. (5.04 ± 0.68)%; U = 0.000, P < 0.05], lower proportion of NK1.1+ DX5+ cells [(21.70 ± 12.48)% vs. (45.75 ± 2.26)%; U = 0.000, P < 0.05] and higher IFN-γ expression [(16.74 ± 1.36)% vs. (8.13 ± 1.90)%; U = 0.000, P < 0.05] were detected in the infected group than in the control group, while no significant difference was seen in TNF-α expression between the two groups [(67.98 ± 9.20)% vs. (52.93 ± 10.42)%; U = 2.000, P > 0.05]. The mouse uNK cells showed a strong cytotoxicity in the infected group, and the cytotoxicity gradually increased with the effector/target cell ratio. The cytotoxicity of uNK cells against YAC-1 cells was 2.30%, 4.32%, 8.12% and 12.65% in the infected group and 1.21%, 1.63%, 2.51% and 3.22% in the control group at effector/target cell ratios of 1:1, 5:1, 10:1 and 20:1, respectively. Following co-culture of human uterine lymphocytes and tachyzoites of the T. gondii RH strain for 48 h, the proportion [TOX 2:1 group vs. control group: (6.61 ± 1.75)% vs. (17.48 ± 4.81)%; F = 7.307, P < 0.01], and absolute number of human uNK cells in uterine lymphocytes of human uNK cells in uterine lymphocytes [TOX 2:1 group vs. control group: (12 104 ± 5 726) cells/well vs. (65 285 ± 21 810) cells/well; H = 11.540, P < 0.01] were significantly lower in the infected group than in the control group. A lower proportion of CD56brightCD16- NK cells [TOX 2:1 group vs. control group: (25.25 ± 5.90)% vs. (36.03 ± 4.51)%; F = 3.213, P > 0.05] and higher proportion of CD56dimCD16+ NK cells [TOX 2:1 group vs. control group: (11.15 ± 2.15)% vs. (7.09 ± 2.24)%; F = 2.992, P > 0.05] were detected in uNK cells in the infected group than in the control group, and the ratio of CD56brightCD16- cells/CD56dimCD16+ cells was significantly lower in the infected group than in the control group [TOX2:1 group vs. control group: (2.37 ± 0.92) vs. (5.58 ± 2.39); H = 8.228, P < 0.05]. In addition, the proportion of CD11b+CD27- cells in human uNK cells was significantly higher in the infected group than in the control group [TOX 2:1 group vs. control group: (30.28 ± 6.91)% vs. (17.48 ± 4.67)%; H = 6.556, P < 0.05], while no significant differences were found between the two groups in terms of IFN-γ [TOX 2:1 group vs. control group: (14.13 ± 1.28)% vs. (15.19 ± 1.64)%; F = 1.639, P > 0.05] or TNF-α expression [TOX 2:1 group vs. control group: (54.76 ± 10.02)% vs. (50.33 ± 3.67)%; F = 0.415, P > 0.05]. Human uNK cells presented a strong cytotoxicity in the infected group, and the cytotoxicity gradually increased with the effector/target cell ratio. The cytotoxicity of human uNK cells against K562 cells was 11.90%, 28.11%, 49.91% and 73.35% in the infected group and 12.21%, 21.63%, 33.51% and 48.22% in the control group at effector/target cell ratios of 1:1, 5:1, 10:1 and 20:1, respectively. Conclusions T. gondii infection presents diverse effects on the differentiation and secretion ability of mouse and human uNK cells. However, T. gondii infection causes a reduction in the absolute number and enhances the cytotoxicity of both mouse and human uNK cells.
ABSTRACT
Embryo is regarded as a semi-allograft for carrying paternal genetic information. It can escape the attack from maternal immune system and successfully implant into the uterus, which mainly relies on the establishment of immune tolerance at the maternal-fetal interface. The maternal-fetal interface is the basis for the connection and material exchange between the mother and fetus. The mechanisms of immune re-sponses at this interface are the key to the maintenance of normal pregnancy. Immunomodulatory molecules expressed at the maternal-fetal interface are vital for immune tolerance. Studies have shown that sialicacid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectins (Siglecs) are abundantly expressed at the maternal-fetal interface and play an important role in immune regulation. Siglecs are important members of the typeⅠimmunoglobulin-like superfamily. By binding with the sialic acid residues on the side chains of glycoproteins or glycolipids, Siglecs involve in immune regulation, the activation and proliferation of immune cells and immune cell-medi-ated physiological and pathological processes. Present research on the expression of Siglecs in the maternal-fetal interface is mainly focused on Siglec-6 and Siglec-10, while other Siglecs are less studied. Siglecs, such as Siglec-6 and Siglec-10, might involve in the regulation of immune tolerance at the maternal-fetal in-terface through binding to different ligands. This article briefly reviewed the expression of Siglecs and their ligands at the maternal-fetal interface and their roles in immune tolerance.
ABSTRACT
O feto é um ser alogênico de sucesso. O feto é um aloenxerto natural bem tolerado pelo organismo materno. Vários fatores contribuem para a tolerância materna ao feto: 1. O útero é um local do corpo imunologicamente privilegiado, protegido por uma barreira tecidual não imunogênica; 2. A promoção de uma resposta imunossupressora local pela mãe: a. A molécula HLA-G do MHC de classe Ib, expressa nas células da placenta, impede que as células NK matem a placenta; b. A catabolização do aminoácido essencial triptofano pela placenta impede que as células T da mãe tenham acesso ao feto; c. A secreção das citocinas TGF-ß, IL-4 e IL-10, pelo epitélio uterino e trofoblasto, tende a suprimir as respostas das células T da mãe; d. A secreção das citocinas TGF-ß e IL-10, pelas células T reguladoras, também inibe as respostas de células T maternas.(AU)
The fetus is a successful allogeneic being. The fetus is a natural allograft well tolerated by the maternal organism. Several factors contribute to maternal fetal tolerance: 1. The uterus is an immunologically privileged body site, protected by a non-immunogenic tissue barrier. 2. Promoting a local immunosuppressive response by the mother: a. The MHC class Ib HLA-G molecule, expressed on placental cells, prevents NK cells from killing the placenta; b. The catabolization of the essential amino acid tryptophan by the placenta prevents the mother's T cells from accessing the fetus; c. Secretion of TGF-ß, IL-4 and IL-10 cytokines by the uterine and trophoblast epithelium tends to suppress the T-cell responses of the mother; d. Secretion of TGF-ß and IL-10 cytokines by regulatory T cells also inhibits maternal T cell responses.(AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Female , Pregnancy , T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory , Fetus/immunology , Major Histocompatibility Complex/immunology , Maternal-Fetal Exchange/immunology , Trophoblasts , Killer Cells, Natural , Allografts , Allogeneic CellsABSTRACT
Objective · To investigate the effects and mechanisms of pregnancy immune tolerance induced by a novel immunosuppressive agent FTY720 and to provide experimental basis for the clinical treatment of unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion. Methods · The mice of spontaneous abortion model were used as subjects. The effects of intraperitoneal injection of FTY720 on the embryo loss rate in mice of spontaneous abortion model and on the expression of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) in the decidual tissue were observed. S1P-siRNA lentiviral vectors and S1P-overexpression gene lentiviral vectors were constructed and transfected into dendritic cells (DCs) from mouse bone marrow. The effects of FTY720 on the embryo loss rate in mice of spontaneous abortion model after adoptive transferring of these two types of lentiviral vectors were observed. Results · FTY720 had no significant effect on the embryo loss rate in normal pregnant mice. Intraperitoneal injection of FTY720 significantly reduced the embryo loss rate in mice of spontaneous abortion model. The expression of S1P in the decidual tissue in mice of spontaneous abortion model was low. After adoptive transferring of S1P-siRNA lentiviral vector transfected DCs, FTY720 could slightly reduce the embryo loss rate in mice of abortion mouse model, but the effect was far less than that of before adoptive transferring of S1P-siRNA lentivirus transfected DCs. After adoptive transferring of the S1P-overexpression gene lentiviral vector transfected DCs, FTY720 could significantly reduce the rate of embryo loss in mice of spontaneous abortion model and the effect was more significant than that of before adoptive transfecting of S1P-overexpression lentiviral vector transfected DCs. Conclusion · FTY720 is safe. The induction of pregnancy immune tolerance may be related to the blockage of S1P signaling pathway.
ABSTRACT
Objective · To investigate the effects and mechanisms of pregnancy immune tolerance induced by a novel immunosuppressive agent FTY720 and to provide experimental basis for the clinical treatment of unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion. Methods · The mice of spontaneous abortion model were used as subjects. The effects of intraperitoneal injection of FTY720 on the embryo loss rate in mice of spontaneous abortion model and on the expression of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) in the decidual tissue were observed. S1P-siRNA lentiviral vectors and S1P-overexpression gene lentiviral vectors were constructed and transfected into dendritic cells (DCs) from mouse bone marrow. The effects of FTY720 on the embryo loss rate in mice of spontaneous abortion model after adoptive transferring of these two types of lentiviral vectors were observed. Results · FTY720 had no significant effect on the embryo loss rate in normal pregnant mice. Intraperitoneal injection of FTY720 significantly reduced the embryo loss rate in mice of spontaneous abortion model. The expression of S1P in the decidual tissue in mice of spontaneous abortion model was low. After adoptive transferring of S1P-siRNA lentiviral vector transfected DCs, FTY720 could slightly reduce the embryo loss rate in mice of abortion mouse model, but the effect was far less than that of before adoptive transferring of S1P-siRNA lentivirus transfected DCs. After adoptive transferring of the S1P-overexpression gene lentiviral vector transfected DCs, FTY720 could significantly reduce the rate of embryo loss in mice of spontaneous abortion model and the effect was more significant than that of before adoptive transfecting of S1P-overexpression lentiviral vector transfected DCs. Conclusion · FTY720 is safe. The induction of pregnancy immune tolerance may be related to the blockage of S1P signaling pathway.
ABSTRACT
Immunological mechanisms have been proposed to underlie the pathogenesis of recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA). Vitamin D has a potent immunomodulatory effect, which may affect pregnancy outcome. The objective of this study was to investigate 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH) D] concentration and vitamin D receptor (VDR) expression in the decidual tissues of RSA patients. Thirty women with RSA (RSA group) and thirty women undergoing elective abortion (control group) were recruited during 2016 from gynecology outpatient clinics. We measured 25(OH) D, interleukin (IL)-17, IL-23, transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), VDR and 1-α-hydroxylase (CYP27B1) in decidual tissues collected during the abortion procedure. In the RSA group, 25(OH) D and TGF-β were significantly decreased while IL-17 and IL-23 were significantly increased compared with the control group. VDR expression was significantly decreased in the RSA group compared with the control group. Logistic regression analysis showed a significant negative correlation between 25(OH) D in decidual tissues and RSA. These results indicated that vitamin D concentrations in the decidua are associated with inflammatory cytokine production, suggesting that vitamin D and VDR may play a role in the etiology of RSA.
Subject(s)
Humans , Female , Pregnancy , Adult , Young Adult , Vitamin D/analogs & derivatives , Abortion, Habitual/metabolism , Receptors, Calcitriol/analysis , Decidua/chemistry , 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 1-alpha-Hydroxylase/analysis , Pregnancy Trimester, Third , Vitamin D/analysis , Vitamin D/metabolism , Vitamin D Deficiency/complications , Logistic Models , Risk Factors , Abortion, Habitual/etiology , Transforming Growth Factor beta/analysis , Receptors, Calcitriol/metabolism , Statistics, Nonparametric , Interleukin-17/analysis , Interleukin-23/analysis , 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 1-alpha-Hydroxylase/metabolismABSTRACT
Galectins are an evolutionarily ancient and widely expressed family of lectins that have unique glycan-binding characteristics. They are pleiotropic regulators of key biological processes, such as cell growth, proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, signal transduction, and pre-mRNA splicing, as well as homo- and heterotypic cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions. Galectins are also pivotal in immune responses since they regulate host-pathogen interactions, innate and adaptive immune responses, acute and chronic inflammation, and immune tolerance. Some galectins are also central to the regulation of angiogenesis, cell migration and invasion. Expression and functional data provide convincing evidence that, due to these functions, galectins play key roles in shared and unique pathways of normal embryonic and placental development as well as oncodevelopmental processes in tumorigenesis. Therefore, galectins may sometimes act as double-edged swords since they have beneficial but also harmful effects for the organism. Recent advances facilitate the use of galectins as biomarkers in obstetrical syndromes and in various malignancies, and their therapeutic applications are also under investigation. This review provides a general overview of galectins and a focused review of this lectin subfamily in the context of inflammation, infection and tumors of the female reproductive tract as well as in normal pregnancies and those complicated by the great obstetrical syndromes.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Pregnancy , Apoptosis , Biomarkers , Biological Phenomena , Carcinogenesis , Cell Movement , Epigenomics , Galectins , Host-Pathogen Interactions , Immune Tolerance , Inflammation , Lectins , Placentation , Pregnancy Complications , RNA Precursors , Signal TransductionABSTRACT
Objective To study the role of ERK1/2 signaling pathways on the process of ACA positive abortion and explore the effect of Anziheji on ERK1/2 signaling pathways from cell proliferation.Methods Levels of ERK1/2 on maternal-fetal interface of every mice in ACA positive abortion model group,blank control group,Anziheji low,mediate,high dose group,aspirin group were detected by immunohistochemical. Results The average optical density value of ERK1 in Anziheji low dose group(0.678 ±0.097)was close to normal group(0.727 ±0.047),there was no significant difference between them.Compared with blank control group,the ERK1 average optical density value in model group(0.434 ±0.066),Anziheji dose group(0.613 ±0.041),high dose group(0.487 ±0.061)and aspirin group(0.551 ±0.056)were significantly lower,and the differences were all statistically significant(P<0.01).Compared with blank control group(0.708 ±0.038),the ERK2 average optical density values in model group(0.430 ±0.058), Anziheji low dose group(0.621 ±0.041),mediate dose group(0.562 ±0.047),high dose group(0.449 ±0.062)and aspirin group(0.515 ±0.045) were significantly lower,and the differences were all statistically significant (P <0.01 ).Conclusion Anziheji can improve the activity of cell proliferation,improve the function of the placenta and change the outcome of pregnancy through ERK signal pathway.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the roles of COX-2, TNF-α, IL-6 in the pathogenesis of autoimmune-type recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA).@*METHODS@#RT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA of COX-2, TNF-α, IL-6 in the trophoblast cells of murine RSA and normal pregnant models. The COX-2, TNF-α, IL-6 protein expressions were determined by using immunohistochemisry staining method. The COX-2, TNF-α, IL-6 protein expressions were determined by ELISA.@*RESULTS@#The embryo loss rates in experiment group was significantly higher than that in normal pregnancy control group, the expression of COX-2, TNF-α, IL-6 in the trophoblast cells of murine RSA and normal pregnant models. The expression of COX-2 in autoimmune-type recurrent spontaneous abortion was significantly lesser than in normal pregnant models. The expression of TNF-α, IL-6 in autoimmune-type recurrent spontaneous abortion was significantly higher than in normal pregnant models. There was a positively correlation between TNF-α and IL-6. There was no relationship between COX-2, TNF-α and IL-6.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The abnormal expression of COX-2, TNF-α and IL-6 may result in RSA.
Subject(s)
Animals , Female , Male , Mice , Abortion, Habitual , Genetics , Allergy and Immunology , Metabolism , Autoimmunity , Genetics , Allergy and Immunology , Cyclooxygenase 2 , Blood , Genetics , Metabolism , Disease Models, Animal , Embryo, Mammalian , Chemistry , Metabolism , Interleukin-6 , Blood , Genetics , Metabolism , Maternal-Fetal Relations , Mice, Inbred CBA , Statistics, Nonparametric , Trophoblasts , Chemistry , Metabolism , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha , Blood , Genetics , MetabolismABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the expression of a new cytokine,thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) and its receptor TSLPR in the villi of human first trimester gestation.Methods:Villi were collected from women who had undergone an artificial abortion at 7-11 weeks of normal gestation.The trophoblast cells (Tros) were isolated and cultured.The total RNA was extracted using TRIzol reagent,from both villi and the Percoll-gradient-isolated Tros,then the DNA fragments of hTSLP and hTSLPR were amplificated by RT-PCR.Villous tissues were detected for TSLP by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Western blot.Immunocytochemistry (ICC) was carried out on cultured trophoblast cells for TSLP/TSLPR expression.Levels of TSLP in the supernatants were detected by ELISA.Results:Normal villi and the cultured Tros transcript were found to express TSLP/TSLPR mRNA and secreted TSLP protein.In addition,TSLP receptor was also expressed on trophoblasts.Conclusion:Both TSLP and its receptor are expressed on villi and trophoblast cells,which suggests that TSLP plays an important role in maternal-fetal immuno-tolerance in human early pregnancy.
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In this study, the expression of IL-24 at maternal-fetal interface and the roles in extravillous trophoblast (the TEV-1 cell line) invasion were examined. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of IL-24 in villi and decidual tissue. The proliferation of TEV-1 cells under the effect of IL-24 was measured by MTT assay. The invasiveness of TEV-1 cells under the effect of recombinant IL-24 (rhIL-24) was examined by transwell system. Immunohistochemical detection showed that IL-24 was expressed in the villi and decidual tissue, and distributed in villous column,trophoblasts, stroma and blood vessels. The proliferation of TEV-1 cells was not inhibited by rhIL-24of various concentrations. The examination of invasion in vitro showed that rhIL-24 could inhibit the invasion of TEV-1 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The results suggested IL-24 could inhibit the invasion of TEV-1 cells. Therefore, IL-24 produced by maternal-fetal interface in human first trimester pregnancy may influence the invasion of trophoblasts and is involved in normal pregnancy.
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Objective:To explore the role of CD86 costimulation in inducing Th2 bias at maternal-fetal interface and the relationship to outcomes of gestation.Methods:Pregnant DBA/2J mated CBA/J mice with a high embryo resorption rate from 20% to 30% and BALB/C mated CBA/J mice with low embryo resorption rates were studied,with rat anti-murine CD86 mAb administered intraperitoneally at the dosage of 100 ?g,at the time of implantation(day 4) and on the following days(6,8,10) of gestation.The competitive semiquantity RT-PCR and ELISA was applied to analysis of the transcription and expression of Th type-1/Th type-2 cytokines at the maternal-fetal interface at day 9 or day 14 of gestation respectively.The embryo resorption rate was counted at day 14 of gestation.Results:In the model of normal pregnancy,blockade of CD86 costimulation had no significant effects on the original Th2 bias at the maternal-fetal interface,and the outcomes of gestation had not changed significantly.While in the model of abortion-prone,blockade of CD86 costimulation successfully induced a Th2 bias at maternal-fetal interface.Therefore,the embryo resorbing rates decreased significantly.Conclusion:Blocking the CD86 costimulation at the early stage of the abortion-prone pregnancy could recover the physiological balance of Th1/Th2 at maternal-fetal interface and induce the maternal-fetal immune tolerance.