Marginal zone B cells emerge as a critical component of pregnancy well-being.
The success of eutherian mammal evolution was certainly supported by the ability of the already existing immune system to adapt to the presence of the semi-allogeneic fetus without losing the capability to defend the mother against infections. This required the acquisition of highly regulated and coordinated immunological mechanisms. Failures in the development of these strategies not only lead to the interruption of pregnancy but also compromise maternal health. Alongside changes on the cytokine profile - expansion of tolerogenic dendritic and regulatory T cells - a profound adaptation of the B cell compartment during pregnancy was recently described. Among others, the suppression of B cell lymphopoiesis and B cell lymphopenia were proposed to be protective mechanisms tending to reduce the occurrence of autoreactive B cells that might recognize fetal structures and put pregnancy on risk. On the other hand, expansion of the pre-activated marginal zone (MZ) B cell phenotype was described as a compensatory strategy launched to overcome B cell lymphopenia thus ensuring a proper defense. In this work, using an animal model of pregnancy disturbances, we demonstrated that the suppression of B cell lymphopoiesis as well as splenic B cell lymphopenia occur independently of pregnancy outcome. However, only animals undergoing normal pregnancies, but not those suffering from pregnancy disturbances, could induce an expansion and activation of the MZ B cells. Hence, our results clearly show that MZ B cells, probably due to the production of natural protective antibodies, participate in the fine balance of immune activation required for pregnancy well-being.
Research LaboratoryDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, GermanyLaboratory for Immunology of PregnancyCenter for Pharmacological and Botanical Studies (CEFYBO-CONICET-UBA), Paraguay 2155 Floor 17th, Buenos Aires C1121ABG, ArgentinaInstitute of Health SciencesNational University Arturo Jauretche, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Damián O
DO
Muzzio
Research LaboratoryDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, GermanyLaboratory for Immunology of PregnancyCenter for Pharmacological and Botanical Studies (CEFYBO-CONICET-UBA), Paraguay 2155 Floor 17th, Buenos Aires C1121ABG, ArgentinaInstitute of Health SciencesNational University Arturo Jauretche, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Katharina B
KB
Ziegler
Research LaboratoryDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, GermanyLaboratory for Immunology of PregnancyCenter for Pharmacological and Botanical Studies (CEFYBO-CONICET-UBA), Paraguay 2155 Floor 17th, Buenos Aires C1121ABG, ArgentinaInstitute of Health SciencesNational University Arturo Jauretche, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Jens
J
Ehrhardt
Research LaboratoryDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, GermanyLaboratory for Immunology of PregnancyCenter for Pharmacological and Botanical Studies (CEFYBO-CONICET-UBA), Paraguay 2155 Floor 17th, Buenos Aires C1121ABG, ArgentinaInstitute of Health SciencesNational University Arturo Jauretche, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Marek
M
Zygmunt
Research LaboratoryDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, GermanyLaboratory for Immunology of PregnancyCenter for Pharmacological and Botanical Studies (CEFYBO-CONICET-UBA), Paraguay 2155 Floor 17th, Buenos Aires C1121ABG, ArgentinaInstitute of Health SciencesNational University Arturo Jauretche, Buenos Aires, Argentina Research LaboratoryDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, GermanyLaboratory for Immunology of PregnancyCenter for Pharmacological and Botanical Studies (CEFYBO-CONICET-UBA), Paraguay 2155 Floor 17th, Buenos Aires C1121ABG, ArgentinaInstitute of Health SciencesNational University Arturo Jauretche, Buenos Aires, Argentina Research LaboratoryDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, GermanyLaboratory for Immunology of PregnancyCenter for Pharmacological and Botanical Studies (CEFYBO-CONICET-UBA), Paraguay 2155 Floor 17th, Buenos Aires C1121ABG, ArgentinaInstitute of Health SciencesNational University Arturo Jauretche, Buenos Aires, Argentina fjensen@unaj.edu.ar federico.jensen@outlook.com.
Federico
F
Jensen
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor / Q000097:blood; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000276:immunology; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000276:immunology; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000097:blood; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000276:immunology*; D038041:Lymphopoiesis / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D023421:Models, Animal; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D014599:Uterus / Q000276:immunology
D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; D007136:Immunoglobulins