Adoptive transfer of paternal antigen-hyporesponsive T cells facilitates a Th2 bias in peripheral lymphocytes and at materno-fetal interface in murine abortion-prone matings.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the Th1/Th2 cytokine changes in abortion-prone recipient mice adoptively transferred by the paternal antigen-hyporesponsive T cells.


METHODS
The paternal antigen-hyporesponsive T cells were generated by the anti-B7 monoclonal antibody (mAb) treatment and adoptively transferred into pregnant CBA/J mice of abortion-prone matings on day 4 of gestation. The intracellular expressions of Th1 cell-derived cytokine, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, gamma-interferon and interleukin-2 (IL-2) and Th2 cell-derived cytokine, IL-4 and IL-10 in the maternal spleen were analyzed by flow cytometry, and secretions of the Th1 and Th2 cytokines in supernatant of the feto-placental unit culture were analyzed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.


RESULTS
Our findings showed the increased secretion of Th1 cytokines and the decreased secretion of Th2 cytokines in abortion-prone matings. Treatment with anti-B7 mAbs on day 4 of gestation enhanced Th2 and reduced Th1 cytokine production in abortion-prone matings. Similarly, adoptive transfer of paternal antigen-hyporesponsive T cells induced maternal tolerance to the fetus and displayed a Th2 bias both in the peripheral lymphocytes and at the materno-fetal interface of the abortion-prone matings.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that the Th2 cytokine bias and an increase in fetal viability induced by the anti-B7 mAb treatment can be transferred to other pregnant mice of the abortion-prone matings.
Jin
Li-Ping
LP
Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Hospital and Institute of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200011, China.
Zhou
Yue-Hua
YH
Zhu
Xiao-Yong
XY
Wang
Ming-Yan
MY
Li
Da-Jin
DJ
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D019264:Adoptive Transfer; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D010920:Placenta / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000637:transplantation*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
D016207:Cytokines