Maternal T cells regulate placental size and fetal survival.
The placental immunotrophism hypothesis states that maternal T cells, through their lymphokines, exert a positive influence on placental growth, which can lead to improved chances of fetal survival. We report here that deleting maternal T cells by monoclonal antibody injection during midgestation is accompanied by increased fetal resorption and decreased placental weight and phagocytosis in two different strain combinations of mice. Conversely, mice with T-cell proliferative disease show increased placental weight and phagocytosis, which can be reversed following T-cell depletion during pregnancy. Furthermore, female mice that are prone to fetal resorption show improved fetal survival if injected with spleen cells from mice with T-cell proliferative disease. These results are in accord with predictions of the placental immunotrophism hypothesis and imply that maternal T cells can participate in the prevention of spontaneous fetal resorption.
Chaouat
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INSERM U:262, Groupe Hospitalier Cochin, Clinque Baudelocque, Paris, France.
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Athanassakis
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Wegmann
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TG
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000276:immunology*; D005327:Fetal Resorption / Q000276:immunology*; D006239:Haplotypes; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology; D008212:Lymphocyte Depletion; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000276:immunology; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D010587:Phagocytosis; D010920:Placenta / Q000276:immunology*; D010929:Placentation; D011247:Pregnancy; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*