title: Complexes of trophoblastic peptides and heat shock protein 70 as a novel contraceptive vaccine in a mouse model.
abstract: The concept of contraceptive vaccines has interested reproductive biologists and immunologists for nearly 2 decades, but no approach has been approved. In this study, a new immunocontraceptive vaccine that targets placental trophoblasts was expored. We demonstrated that after in-vitro binding with heat shock protein 70, trophoblast-derived peptides can activate T cells both in vitro and in vivo. The activated T cells have a Th1 bias and specifically cause cytolysis of trophoblasts, leading to the termination of pregnancy. Such activated T cells seem to have an effect on early gestation, rather than influencing preimplantation. We did not observe side-effects of this vaccine in mice. In conclusion, a novel contraceptive strategy is described that uses heat shock protein 70-trophoblastic peptide complexes to generate a specific T-cell immune response against placental trophoblasts. This type of vaccine targeting the post-implantation phase does not generate a permanent effect but possibly raises an ethical issue.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
authors: Mei
authors: M
authors: Han
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
authors: Yuan
authors: Y
authors: Yao
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
authors: Wangjiang
authors: W
authors: Zeng
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
authors: Yanfang
authors: Y
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
authors: Lin
authors: L
authors: Feng
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China. Electronic address: jiezhao2002@aliyun.com.
authors: Jie
authors: J
authors: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005260:Female; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D011247:Pregnancy; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D022642:Vaccines, Contraceptive / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D010455:Peptides; D022642:Vaccines, Contraceptive
keywords: HSP70; contraception; trophoblastic peptides; vaccine