title: The role of glycodelin as an immune-modulating agent at the feto-maternal interface.
abstract: Glycodelin A is a progesterone-induced endometrial glycoprotein which has been amply documented to play a role in down-modulation of the maternal immune response to fetal allo-antigens and to be indispensable for the maintenance and progression of pregnancy. Earlier studies from our laboratory have focused on the effect of glycodelin on T cells, key regulators of both the antibody and cell-mediated arms of the acquired immune system. Glycodelin-induced apoptosis in activated T cells occurs through a caspase-dependent intrinsic mitochondrial pathway. Interestingly, glycodelin inhibited the proliferation of B cells but did not induce apoptosis. More recently, we have studied the effect of glycodelin on the cells of the innate immune system, namely monocytes and NK cells. We have found that glycodelin induced apoptosis in monocytic cells before their differentiation to macrophages, via the mitochondrial pathway, but did not affect their phagocytic capacity after differentiation. Glycodelin induced apoptosis in NK cells but this activity was independent of caspases. In conclusion, glycodelin is observed to affect many cells of the immune system, although the nature of the effect and signaling mechanisms involved in each cell type may be distinct.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: Anshula
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alok
authors.forename: Anjali A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Karande
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D000071816:Glycodelin; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D056747:Immunomodulation; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange / Q000276:immunology*; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000276:immunology; D009000:Monocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000071816:Glycodelin; D006023:Glycoproteins; C045246:PAEP protein, human; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins