title: T-bet, pSTAT1 and pSTAT3 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells during pregnancy correlates with post-partum activation of multiple sclerosis.
abstract: In pregnant women affected by multiple sclerosis (MS) we observed increased percentages of CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) T regulatory cells at the 1st and the 2nd trimester of gestation that was associated with a decreased T-bet expression in CD4(+) T cells. In women showing clinical relapse and/or new lesions at MRI after delivery we found, a higher expression of T-bet, pSTAT1 and pSTAT3 in CD4(+), CD8(+) T cells and CD14(+) cells, associated with an increase of IFNgamma and IL17 production by PBMC at the 3rd trimester of gestation and after delivery. Our data suggest that the expansion of circulating CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells and the lower expression of T-bet in CD4(+) T cells may account for the decreased MS activity during pregnancy. The expression of T-bet, pSTAT1 and pSTAT3 in peripheral blood CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells and monocytes could be useful to identify MS patients who will develop a relapse after delivery.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurology, Department of Neuroscience, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Iorio
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Frisullo
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nociti
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Patanella
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bianco
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mirabella
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Tonali
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Batocchi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D000098815:T-bet Transcription Factor
chemical_list: C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D020381:Interleukin-17; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; C494079:STAT1 protein, human; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; C494086:STAT3 protein, human; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins; D000098815:T-bet Transcription Factor; D016753:Interleukin-10; D007371:Interferon-gamma