T cell cytokine responses to stimulation with Ureaplasma parvum in pregnancy.
Ureaplasma spp. are a common vaginal microorganism causally linked to inflammation-driven preterm birth (PTB). The nature of the immune response to Ureaplasma spp. may influence PTB risk. This study sought to define maternal T cell cytokine responses to in vitro stimulation with Ureaplasma parvum serovar 3 (UpSV3) in vaginally colonised (UP+) and non-colonised (UP-) pregnant women. Whole blood flow cytometry demonstrated an increase (p=0.027) in the baseline frequency of IFNγ-positive CD3(+)CD4(-)(CD8(+)) T cells in UP+ women. UpSV3 stimulation resulted in a significant and specific increase (p=0.001) in the frequency of IFNγ-positive CD3(+)CD4(-)(CD8(+)) T cells, regardless of vaginal colonisation status. UpSV3 stimulation also increased the frequency of IFNγ-positive CD3(+)CD4(+) T cells, particularly in the UP+ group (p=0.003). This is the first published study to examine T cell responses to Ureaplasma spp.



Future appropriately-powered studies are needed to assess whether insufficient priming or a loss of tolerance to Ureaplasma spp. is occurring in UP+ women at risk of PTB.
School of Women's and Infants' Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. Electronic address: 10911373@student.uwa.edu.au.
Yael D
YD
Friedland
Bendat Family Comprehensive Cancer Centre, St John of God Subiaco Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; School of Surgery, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. Electronic address: tracey.lee-pullen@uwa.edu.au.
Tracey F
TF
Lee-Pullen
School of Women's and Infants' Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; Women and Infants Research Foundation, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. Electronic address: liz.nathan@uwa.edu.au.
Elizabeth A
EA
Nathan
School of Women's and Infants' Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. Electronic address: 20157536@student.uwa.edu.au.
Rory
R
Watts
School of Women's and Infants' Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; Women and Infants Research Foundation, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. Electronic address: jeff.keelan@uwa.edu.au.
Jeffrey A
JA
Keelan
School of Women's and Infants' Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. Electronic address: matthew.payne@uwa.edu.au.
Matthew S
MS
Payne
School of Women's and Infants' Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. Electronic address: demelza.ireland@uwa.edu.au.
Demelza J
DJ
Ireland
D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000378:metabolism; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008423:Maternal Age; D011247:Pregnancy; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014509:Ureaplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D016869:Ureaplasma Infections / Q000276:immunology*
D017252:CD3 Complex; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D007371:Interferon-gamma
Cytokines; Intracellular flow cytometry; Preterm birth; T cells; Ureaplasma spp