title: HO-1 as modulator of the innate immune response in pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The immune modulatory effect of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is well documented in studies about sepsis and transplantation. This work evaluates the influence of HO-1 on the innate immune response during pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human first-trimester trophoblasts derived from normal pregnancies or spontaneous abortions were analyzed for their basal HO-1, BCL-associated athanogene-1 (Bag-1), and cytokine production before and after LPS treatment. In vivo, pregnant Hmox1+/+ and Hmox1+/- female mice were treated with LPS, and the production of Bag-1 was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Human trophoblasts up-regulated the expression of both HO-1 and pro-inflammatory cytokines after LPS treatment, whereas the basal level of HO-1 was higher in normal pregnancies. In vivo, HO-1 deficiency provoked diminished Bag-1 level upon LPS treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HO-1 deficiency causes an inflammatory immune reaction and diminished expression of protective molecules in trophoblasts. Thus, HO-1 emerges as one important modulator of innate immune responses in pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Experimental Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kahlo
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fill Malfertheiner
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ignatov
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Serban-Dan
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schumacher
authors.forename: Ana C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Zenclussen
mesh_terms: D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000276:immunology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000276:immunology*; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C091732:BCL2-associated athanogene 1 protein; D016207:Cytokines; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C496541:HMOX1 protein, human; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1; C496542:Hmox1 protein, mouse