Effect of pregnancy malaria on T cells in immune organ of offspring mice / 中华地方病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To observe the influence of pregnant mice having malaria on T cell function of offspring mice, and to study the changes of cellular immune response in offspring mice exposed to malaria infection in uterus.Methods:Adult Kunming mice of clean grade were selected after mating, on the 14th day of pregnancy, pregnant mice were randomize assigned into experimental group ( n = 5) and control group ( n = 5) according to the method of random number table. Each mouse in the experimental group was intraperitoneally inoculated with 1 × 10 6 red blood cells infected with Plasmodium berghei ( P.b), and same volume of normal saline was given to control group. After birth, the changes of CD4/CD8 T cell subsets in their thymuses and spleens of the two group neonatal mice were analyzed by flow cytometry at day 0, 1, 3, 5 and 4-week-old. Then the 4-weeks-old neonatal mice were intraperitoneally inoculated with 1 × 10 6P.b. On the third day, the changes of CD4/CD8 T cells subsets in their thymuses and spleens were observed, respectively, and the immune response of spleen cells stimulated by P.b antigen or mitogen [concanavalin A (Con A)] was detected. Results:Compared with the control group, the proportions of CD3 +CD4 +CD8 - T cells in thymus and spleen of the offspring of the experimental group (0, 1, 3, 5 days) were higher ( P < 0.05), while the proportions of CD3 +CD4 -CD8 + T cells in thymus were lower ( P < 0.05). For 4-week-old offspring and after infection of P.b, the proportions of CD3 +CD4 +CD8 - T cells in thymus and spleen of the experimental group were both significantly higher than those of control group ( P < 0.05), in contrast, the proportions of CD3 +CD4 -CD8 + T cells in thymus and spleen were both significantly lower than those of control group ( P < 0.05). The spleen cells of 4-week-old mice were stimulated by P.b antigen or mitogen ConA in vitro, compared with the control group, there were no significant differences in the proportions of CD3 +CD4 +CD8 - T cells and CD3 +CD4 -CD8 + T cells in the experimental group ( P > 0.05). Conclusion:During pregnancy, the maternal infection of P.b could significantly affect the ratio of CD4/CD8 T cell subsets in thymus and spleen of offspring mice; and could change the cellular immune response of offspring to P.b infection.