Increased maternal T cell autoreactivity associated with syngeneic murine pregnancy.
In this study T cells isolated from isopregnant and virgin CBA/J mice were examined for reactivity to self antigen(s) in vitro and in vivo. The autoproliferative capacity of maternal versus virgin T cells was tested in vitro using autologous mixed lymphocyte reactions (AMLR). The popliteal lymph node (PLN) assay was used to compare the ability of maternal versus virgin T lymphocytes to mediate syngeneic graft-versus-host (SGvH) reactions in vivo. Splenic T cells obtained from pregnant animals near term were found to be approximately 10-fold more reactive towards syngeneic virgin non-T stimulator cells in AMLR than splenic T lymphocytes from age-matched virgin animals. In addition, T cells isolated from the spleens of gravid CBA/J mice displayed a significantly enhanced capacity to mediate SGvH reactions in virgin CBA/J females as measured by regional lymph node enlargement. These findings indicate that syngeneic murine pregnancy is accompanied by an increase in autoreactive T cell activity.
D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004261:DNA Replication; D005260:Female; D007106:Immune Sera; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D007106:Immune Sera