Dominant IL-10 and TGF-beta mRNA expression in gammadeltaT cells of human early pregnancy decidua suggests immunoregulatory potential.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the cytokine gene expression in gammadeltaT-cells from human early pregnancy decidua.


METHODS
The cytokine messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in isolated decidual T-cell receptor (TCR)gammadelta+/CD56+ and TCRgammadelta single positive cells was investigated with a panel of cytokine primers and probes selected to distinguish between T helper (Th)1, Th2, Th3 and regulatory T-cells (Tr1) type of immune response using real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).


RESULTS
TCRgammadelta+/CD56+ cells express almost exclusively the immunosuppressive cytokines interleukin-10 (IL-10) and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta. The TCRgammadelta single positive cells enhance their transcription of IL-10 and TGF-beta, compared with the TCRgammadelta+ CD56+ cells and additionally express mRNA for IL-1beta and IL-6.


CONCLUSIONS
The present findings suggest that gammadeltaT cells in normal pregnancy create a cytokine milieu promoting immunotolerance to the fetus. We hypothesize that through the production of the immunosuppressive cytokines IL-10 and/or TGF-beta the gammadeltaT cells could function directly as regulatory T cells or induce the differentiation of Th0 TCRalphabeta+ cells into regulatory/suppresser cells.
D019002:CD56 Antigen / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D003656:Decidua / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000276:immunology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*
D019002:CD56 Antigen; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D016753:Interleukin-10