title: Thymic stromal lymphopoietin suppresses the apoptosis of decidual gamma-delta T cells via regulation of the signal transduction and activation of transcription 3/caspase-3 signaling pathway.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) regulates the apoptosis of decidual γδ T cells and to elucidate the mechanism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary human decidual γδ T cells were treated with TSLP only or TSLP combined with different signaling inhibitors (STAT3, STAT5, AKT, and ERK). The levels of signal transduction and activation of transcription 3 (STAT3) tyrosine phosphorylation and caspase3 expression were determined using Western blot analysis, and the apoptosis of decidual γδ T cells was analyzed by flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proportions of γδ T cells in the peripheral circulation and in decidual CD3(+) cell population in women with normal pregnancy were higher than the proportions of γδ T cells in either non-pregnant control or miscarriage. Decidual γδ T cells co-expressed the TSLP receptors (TSLPR) and IL-7Rα, and the expression of TSLPR in decidual γδ T cells was higher than that in decidual CD8(+) and CD4(+) T cells. Treatment with TSLP significantly suppressed the apoptosis of decidual γδ T cells and enhanced STAT3 phosphorylation. Moreover, STAT3, and not other inhibitors, completely abrogated the anti-apoptotic effect and expression of caspase3 in decidual γδ T cells induced by recombinant human TSLP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that TSLP may down-regulate caspase3 expression through activation of the STAT3 pathway, thereby suppressing the apoptosis of decidual γδ T cells.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related Diseases, Hospital and Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Xiao-Ping
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Ming-Qing
authors.initials: MQ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Deng-Xuan
authors.initials: DX
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Da-Jin
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Li-Ping
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Jin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011247:Pregnancy; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D000094632:Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; C494086:STAT3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D000094632:Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin
keywords: Apoptosis; caspase3; signal transduction and activation of transcription 3; thymic stromal lymphopoietin; γδ T cells