title: Pregnancy-specific down-regulation of NF-kappa B expression in T cells in humans is essential for the maintenance of the cytokine profile required for pregnancy success.
abstract: It is accepted that human pregnancy is associated with a shift away from Th1 type and a bias toward Th2-type immune responses. The molecular mechanisms that regulate this shift are as yet unknown. We assessed the expression and activity of NF-kappaB, a transcription factor that plays a central role in regulating immune responses. We isolated T cells from PBMCs from nonpregnant and pregnant females and demonstrated that the NF-kappaB/IkappaB signaling pathway is down-regulated in T cells in pregnancy. Using Western blotting, high levels of NF-kappaB (p65) were detected in all nuclear fractions of T cells from nonpregnant females. In contrast, low levels of p65 were detected in nuclear fractions from T cells from pregnant females. Levels of IkappaBalpha and -beta were also higher in cytoplasmic fractions from T cells from nonpregnant than from pregnant females. The reduction in p65 levels in pregnancy was reflected in the activity of NF-kappaB in EMSA; T cells from pregnant females contain less active NF-kappaB than from nonpregnant females. Stimulation of T cells from nonpregnant females with PMA/ionomycin resulted in IkappaBalpha degradation, p65 translocation, and subsequent production of the Th1 cytokines IFN-gamma and IL-2. In contrast, PMA stimulation had no effect on NF-kappaB activity in T cells from pregnant females, and this was reflected in reduced Th1 cytokine production. Using the inhibitor of NF-kappaB activity, SN50, we were able to show that NF-kappaB activity was essential for the production of Th1 cytokines, suggesting that specific down-regulation of NF-kappaB in T cells throughout gestation is paramount to pregnancy success through specific regulation of cytokine production.
authors.affiliation: Perinatal Research, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Sydney University, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. smccrack@med.usyd.edu.au
authors.forename: Sharon A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: McCracken
authors.forename: Eileen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gallery
authors.forename: Jonathan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Morris
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002469:Cell Separation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000072000:NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; C083487:I kappa B beta protein; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins; D016328:NF-kappa B; C000606204:NFKBIA protein, human; D010455:Peptides; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; C118258:SN50 peptide; D000072000:NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate