title: Transient modification within a pool of CD4 T cells in the maternal spleen.
abstract: Classic models suggest maternal tolerance is dependent on regulation of fetal antigen-specific T cell responses. We hypothesize that factors unique to a particular fetal antigen-specific T cell, rather than the state of pregnancy per se, are important determinants of T cell fate during pregnancy. To investigate the fate of fetal antigen-specific CD4 T cells in the systemic circulation, we examined spleen cells in a CD4 T cell receptor transgenic mouse specific for the male antigen H-Y. We observed a transient decrease in CD4(+) Vβ6(+) cell numbers and, due to transient internalization of CD4, an increase in CD4(-) Vβ6(+) T cells. Antigen-specific in vitro responsiveness was not depressed by pregnancy. These data suggest that pregnancy supports fluidity in this particular CD4 T cell pool that may, in turn, help to meet competing requirements of maternal immune responsiveness and fetal tolerance.
authors: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, The University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT 05405, USA. ebonney@uvm.edu
authors: Elizabeth A
authors: EA
authors: Bonney
authors: Michelle T
authors: MT
authors: Shepard
authors: Peyman
authors: P
authors: Bizargity
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006182:H-Y Antigen / Q000276:immunology*; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D011247:Pregnancy; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015704:CD4 Antigens; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006182:H-Y Antigen; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; C499308:Rag2 protein, mouse; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta