Role of hormone-controlled Th1- and Th2-type cytokines in successful pregnancy.
Development of CD4+ helper T (Th) cells into type 1 (Th1) or type 2 (Th2) effectors, as characterized by their opposite pattern of cytokine production, can be influenced by several factors, including hormones. Progesterone promotes the production of IL-4 and IL-5, whereas relaxin promotes the production of IFN-gamma by T cells. Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), essential for embryo implantation, is up-regulated by IL-4 and progesterone. Moreover, the production of LIF and/or Th2 cytokines by decidual T cells contributes to the maintenance of pregnancy. Our results suggest that relaxin and progesterone may contribute to the regulation of the immune homeostasis during pregnancy.
Piccinni
M P
MP
Department of Internal Medicine, Immunoallergology Unit, University of Florence, 85 Viale Morgagni, 50134, Florence, Italy. mppiccinni@hotmail.com
Scaletti
C
C
Maggi
E
E
Romagnani
S
S
D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000502:physiology; D015850:Interleukin-6; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000276:immunology*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000502:physiology*; D012065:Relaxin / Q000502:physiology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000502:physiology*
D016207:Cytokines; D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D015850:Interleukin-6; C507837:LIF protein, human; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor; D008222:Lymphokines; D016753:Interleukin-10; D011374:Progesterone; D012065:Relaxin