Effects of normal pregnancy on anterior chamber-associated immune deviation in primates / 中国病理生理杂志

ABSTRACT

AIM:Recently it was found that loss of anterior chamber-associated immune deviation (ACAID) was associated with normal pregnancy in rabbits. The purpose of this study is to further investigate whether the same events occurred in nonhuman primates. METHODS:Mid-pregnant cynomolgus monkeys were randomly selected. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) or balanced salt solution was inoculated in anterior chamber of eyes of nonpregnant and mid-pregnant monkeys that were subsequently immunized with BSA in adjuvant and then skin was challenged for delayed-type hypersensitivity with BSA. RESULTS: Non-pregnant monkeys of intracameral BSA were able to acquire antigen-specific suppression of delayed-type hypersensitivity. By contrast, inoculation of BSA to anterior chamber of pregnant monkeys abolished the DTH-suppression effect. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first demonstration in primates that loss of anterior chamber-associated immune deviation occurred during normal pregnancy. The fluctuations of systemic hormone levels during normal pregnancy might influence local immunoregulation within the eye.