Specific maternal anti-fetal lymphoproliferative responses and their regulation by natural immunosuppressive factors.
Maternal immune responses to autologous and/or oncodevelopmental antigenic determinants expressed on fetal tissues may constitute a potential hazard to fetal survival distinct from the well-studied maternal immune reactivity directed against paternally-derived fetal alloantigens. Splenic T cells with a helper phenotype (Lyt 1+2-) obtained from primiparous CBA/J mice pregnant by syngeneic matings were found to proliferate in response to co-culture with syngeneic Lyt 1-2- fetal thymus cells. In contrast, splenic T cells from virgin animals failed to react against fetal stimulator cells, suggesting that autosensitization to fetal gene products is a pregnancy-associated phenomena. Addition of anti-Ia alloantiserum at initiation of culture virtually abrogated the blastogenic response by maternal T cells, indicating that this is an Ia-dependent reaction. The addition of natural suppressor (NS) cells or alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), both of which are naturally occurring pregnancy-associated immunoregulatory factors, was found to markedly inhibit in-vitro maternal anti-fetal autoreactivity. NS cells and AFP may play an important role in maintaining homeostasis in the fetal-placental environment during murine pregnancy.
Hoskin
D W
DW
Department of Microbiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Murgita
R A
RA
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000276:immunology*; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology; D007519:Isoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000276:immunology
D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D007519:Isoantigens; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins