[A change in antigen presentation ability of spleen macrophage from Balb/c mouse during late pregnancy].
OBJECTIVE
To study the antigen presentation ability of spleen macrophage from Balb/c mouse during late gestation.


METHODS
The spleen of Balb/c mouse during late gestation was collected aseptically and macrophage was separated; the mice in estrus were used as control. The ability of macrophage to prime original T cells to human gamma globulin antigen (HGG-Ag) or placenta antigen (Pla-Ag) was evaluated by a delayed-type hyper sensitivity (DTH) response induced by the same antigen, and the ability of macrophage to induce the proliferation of primed normal T cells to HGG-Ag or Pla-Ag was assessed by an antigen special lymphocyte transformation in vitro.


RESULTS
After being sensitized previously by spleen macrophage from Balb/c mice during late gestation that has been pulsed by HGG-Ag or Pla-Ag, the DTH intensity of mice response to the same antigen was significantly weaker than that being sensitized by macrophage from mice in estrus (P < 0.05). When spleen macrophage from Balb/c mice during late gestation was used as antigen presentation cell (APC), the proliferability of primed T cell induced by HGG-Ag or Pla-ag was significantly lower than that when macrophage from estrous Balb/c mouse was used in vitro (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The antigen presentation ability of spleen macrophage from Balb/c mouse is inhibited during late pregnancy. This may be the important mechanism by which maternal immune system tolerates embryo antigen and may be responsible for the down-regulation of maternal cell mediated immunity during pregnancy.
Tan
Zongjian
Z
Department of Reproduction & Immunological, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Chendu 610041, China.
Li
Shangwei
S
Cao
Zeyi
Z
Zhao
Zongrong
Z
Ma
Qianhong
Q
Huang
Zhongying
Z
Li
Lei
L
D000818:Animals; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005916:Globulins / Q000276:immunology; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011247:Pregnancy; D011897:Random Allocation; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology
D005916:Globulins