Loss of anterior chamber-associated immune deviation during normal pregnancy in primates.
OBJECTIVE
We recently found that loss of anterior chamber-associated immune deviation was associated with normal pregnancy in rabbits. The purpose of this study is to further investigate whether the same events occurred in nonhuman primates.


METHODS
Mid-pregnant cynomolgus monkeys were randomly selected. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was inoculated in anterior chamber of eyes of nonpregnant and mid-pregnant monkeys that were subsequently immunized with BSA in adjuvant. Delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) was assessed by skin challenge.


RESULTS
Non-pregnant monkeys of intracameral BSA proved able to acquire antigen-specific suppression of delayed-type hypersensitivity. By contrast, inoculation of BSA to anterior chamber of pregnant monkeys abolished the DTH-suppression effect.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first demonstration in primates that loss of anterior chamber-associated immune deviation occurred during normal pregnancy. The fluctuations of systemic hormone levels during normal pregnancy might influence local immunoregulation within the eye.
Li
Z
Z
Research Section of Ophthalmology, Institute of Tissue Transplantation & Immunology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
Peng
G
G
Li
C
C
D000818:Animals; D000867:Anterior Chamber / Q000276:immunology*; D000917:Antibody Formation; D002417:Cattle; D005260:Female; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed; D007109:Immunity; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D011247:Pregnancy; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000276:immunology*
D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine