Functional and structural regression of the rabbit corpus luteum is associated with altered luteal immune cell phenotypes and cytokine expression patterns.
Following attenuation of progesterone production corpora lutea are selectively cleared, a process associated with recruitment of macrophages. In the rabbit little is known about luteal immune cell phenotypes and expression of cytokines, which influence immune cells and resident luteal cells, during luteolysis. Consequently, we studied luteal immune cells by immunohistochemistry as well as luteal IL-10, TNFalpha, MCP-1, IFN-gamma, and IL-1beta mRNA expression by semiquantitative RT-PCR from day 8 to day 20 in pseudopregnant rabbits (d8-d20 p.hCG). Luteal function was assayed by serum progesterone levels. Functional luteolysis commenced by d14 p.hCG as indicated by attenuation of serum progesterone levels. X4(+) tissue macrophage levels increased transiently on d12 and d14 p.hCG, whereas CD5(+) T-cell levels transiently declined on these two days. CD68(+) macrophages increased progressively after d16 p.hCG. The luteal mRNA level of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 as well as the mRNA levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNFalpha and MCP-1 increased after d16 p.hCG and remained elevated up to d20 p.hCG. IFN-gamma and IL-1beta mRNA expression did not vary systematically. In summary, luteolysis was associated with an initial transient increase of X4(+) macrophages and decrease of CD5(+) T-cells, and later recruitment of CD68(+) macrophages. During structural regression pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines are upregulated possibly to control immune cell function.
Krusche
Claudia A
CA
Department of Anatomy and Reproductive Biology, Wendlingweg 2, 52074 Aachen, Germany. ckrusche@ukaachen.de
Vloet
Timo D
TD
Herrler
Andreas
A
Black
Simon
S
Beier
Henning M
HM
D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000032:analysis; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D018956:CD5 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000235:genetics; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics*; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D053804:Granzymes; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000235:genetics; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000235:genetics; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000235:genetics; D003341:Luteolysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000235:genetics; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D011555:Pseudopregnancy / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics; D013997:Time Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D018956:CD5 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D016207:Cytokines; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D053804:Granzymes; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D007375:Interleukin-1; D016753:Interleukin-10; D008222:Lymphokines; D011374:Progesterone; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; C067980:CD68 antigen, human; D000097382:CD68 Molecule; C509213:GZMB protein, human