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Du L, Pan D, Huang H, Liu Q, Yang Y, Jiang G. Shoutai Wan treatment upregulates the expression of TNFAIP3 and improves T cell immune tolerance at maternal-fetal interface. J Reprod Immunol 2024; 165:104301. [PMID: 39146884 DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2024.104301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
Shoutai Wan (STW) is a traditional Chinese medicine formula used to treat various conditions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of STW on the abortion rate in the URSA mouse model and elucidate its underlying molecular mechanisms. Female CBA/J mice were mated with male DBA/2 mice to establish the URSA model. Network pharmacological analysis was employed to investigate the potential molecular mechanisms of STW. Hematoxylin-eosin staining, immunofluorescence, and ELISA were performed to examine placental microenvironmental changes, protein expression related to TNFAIP3 and the NF-κB signaling pathway. Treatment with STW reduced the abortion rate in URSA model mice and improved trophoblast development. TNFAIP3 was identified as a potential target of STW for treating URSA, as STW enhanced TNFAIP3 protein expression while decreasing IL-6 and TNF-α secretion in the placenta. Moreover, STW upregulated TNFAIP3 protein expression and Foxp3 mRNA levels, increased the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-10 and TGF-β1, and decreased p-NF-κB expression in CD4+ cells at the placenta. The findings of this study indicate that STW treatment reduces the abortion rate in the URSA mouse model. These effects are likely mediated by increased TNFAIP3 expression and decreased NF-κB signaling pathway activity at the maternal-fetal interface. These molecular changes may contribute to the regulation of T cell immunity and immune tolerance during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Le Du
- Department of traditional Chinese Medicine, Pizhou people's Hospital affiliated to Xuzhou Medical University, Jiangsu 221000, China
| | - Dingchen Pan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200000, China
| | - He Huang
- ShuGuang Clinical College, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qian Liu
- ShuGuang Clinical College, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Experiment Center for Science and Technology, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200000, China.
| | - Guojing Jiang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200092, China.
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2
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Foyle KL, Chin PY, Merkwirth C, Wilson J, Hosking SL, Green ES, Chong MY, Zhang B, Moldenhauer LM, Ferguson GD, Morris GP, Karras JG, Care AS, Robertson SA. IL-2/JES6-1 Antibody Complex Expands the Maternal T-Regulatory Cell Pool and Alleviates Fetal Loss in Abortion-Prone Mice. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2024:S0002-9440(24)00283-9. [PMID: 39117109 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2024.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
Regulatory T (Treg) cells are essential for immune tolerance of embryo implantation, and insufficient Treg cells are implicated in early pregnancy loss. An abortion-prone mouse model was used to evaluate the utility of IL-2 complexed with JES6-1 anti-IL-2 antibody (IL-2/JES6-1) to boost uterine Treg cells and improve reproductive success. IL-2/JES6-1, but not IL-2/IgG control, administered in the periconception phase to CBA/J females mated with DBA/2 males elicited a greater than twofold increase in the proportion of CD4+ T cells expressing forkhead box P3 (FOXP3), and an increase in the ratio of FOXP3+ Treg cells/FOXP3- T conventional cells, in the uterus and its draining lymph nodes at embryo implantation that was sustained into midgestation. An attenuated phenotype was evident in both thymic-derived and peripheral Treg cells with elevated cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4, CD25, and FOXP3, indicating improved suppressive function, as well as increased proliferative marker Ki-67. IL-2/JES6-1 treatment reduced fetal loss from 31% to 10%, but this was accompanied by a 6% reduction in late gestation fetal weight, despite comparable placental size and architecture. Similar effects of IL-2/JES6-1 on Treg cells and fetal growth were seen in CBA/J females with healthy pregnancies sired by BALB/c males. These findings show that expanding the uterine Treg cell pool through targeting IL-2 signaling is a strategy worthy of further investigation for mitigating immune-mediated fetal loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerrie L Foyle
- The Robinson Research Institute and School of Biomedicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Peck Y Chin
- The Robinson Research Institute and School of Biomedicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | | | - Jasmine Wilson
- The Robinson Research Institute and School of Biomedicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Shanna L Hosking
- The Robinson Research Institute and School of Biomedicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Ella S Green
- The Robinson Research Institute and School of Biomedicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Mei Y Chong
- The Robinson Research Institute and School of Biomedicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Bihong Zhang
- The Robinson Research Institute and School of Biomedicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Lachlan M Moldenhauer
- The Robinson Research Institute and School of Biomedicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | | | - Gerald P Morris
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | | | - Alison S Care
- The Robinson Research Institute and School of Biomedicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Sarah A Robertson
- The Robinson Research Institute and School of Biomedicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
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3
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Foyle KL, Robertson SA. Gamma delta (γδ) T cells in the female reproductive tract: active participants or indifferent bystanders in reproductive success? DISCOVERY IMMUNOLOGY 2024; 3:kyae004. [PMID: 38863792 PMCID: PMC11165432 DOI: 10.1093/discim/kyae004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
The female reproductive tract accommodates and balances the unique immunological challenges of protection from sexually transmitted pathogens and tolerance of the fetus and placenta in pregnancy. Leukocytes in the female reproductive tract actively engage in extensive maternal adaptations that are imperative for embryo implantation, placental development, and fetal growth support. γδ T cells are abundant at many mucosal sites in the body, where they provide protection against pathogens and cancer, and have roles in tissue renewal and homeostasis. In this review, we summarize studies in humans and rodents showing that γδ T cells are prevalent in the female reproductive tract and fluctuate in response to hormone changes across the reproductive cycle. Emerging evidence points to a link between changes in their abundance and molecular repertoire in the uterus and pregnancy disorders including recurrent miscarriage and preterm birth. However, defining the precise functional role of female reproductive tract γδ T cells and understanding their physiological significance in reproduction and pregnancy have remained elusive. Here, we critically analyze whether reproductive tract γδ T cells could be active participants in reproductive events-or whether their principal function is immune defense, in which case they may compromise pregnancy success unless adequately regulated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerrie L Foyle
- Robinson Research Institute and School of Biomedicine, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Sarah A Robertson
- Robinson Research Institute and School of Biomedicine, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
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4
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Jiang L, Cao D, Yeung WSB, Lee KF. Single-Cell RNA-Sequencing Reveals Interactions between Endometrial Stromal Cells, Epithelial Cells, and Lymphocytes during Mouse Embryo Implantation. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010213. [PMID: 36613656 PMCID: PMC9820401 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The decidualization of endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) is an essential process facilitating embryo implantation. However, the roles of non-decidualized and decidualized ESCs in regulating the microenvironment of a receptive endometrium remain unclear. We investigated single-cell transcriptomic changes in the uterus of a CD-1 mouse model at the post-implantation stage. The implantation and inter-implantation sites of the uteruses of pregnant mice at 4.5 and 5.5 days post-coitum were dissected for single-cell RNA sequencing. We identified eight cell types: epithelial cells, stromal cells, endothelial cells, mesothelial cells, lymphocytes, myocytes, myeloids, and pericytes. The ESC transcriptome suggests that the four ESC subtypes are involved in the extracellular remodeling during implantation. The trajectory plot of ESC subtypes indicates embryo implantation that involves a differentiation pathway from undifferentiated ESCs (ESC 1) to decidualized ESCs (DEC ESCs), with distinct signaling pathways between the ESC subtypes. Furthermore, the ligand-receptor analysis suggests that ESCs communicate with epithelial cells and immune cells through nectin and ICAM signaling. Collectively, both decidualized and non-decidualized ESCs may regulate the endometrial microenvironment for optimal endometrial receptivity and immune tolerance. This study provides insights on the molecular and cellular characteristics of mouse ESCs in modulating the epithelial and lymphocyte functions during early embryo implantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luhan Jiang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Dandan Cao
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Fertility Regulation, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Futian District, Shenzhen 518053, China
| | - William S. B. Yeung
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Fertility Regulation, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Futian District, Shenzhen 518053, China
| | - Kai-Fai Lee
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Fertility Regulation, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Futian District, Shenzhen 518053, China
- Correspondence: ; Fax: +852-2816-1947
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5
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Cervantes O, Talavera IC, Every E, Coler B, Li M, Li A, Li H, Adams Waldorf K. Role of hormones in the pregnancy and sex-specific outcomes to infections with respiratory viruses. Immunol Rev 2022; 308:123-148. [PMID: 35373371 PMCID: PMC9189035 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Pregnant women infected with pathogenic respiratory viruses, such as influenza A viruses (IAV) and coronaviruses, are at higher risk for mortality, hospitalization, preterm birth, and stillbirth. Several factors are likely to contribute to the susceptibility of pregnant individuals to severe lung disease including changes in pulmonary physiology, immune defenses, and effector functions of some immune cells. Pregnancy is also a physiologic state characterized by higher levels of multiple hormones that may impact the effector functions of immune cells, such as progesterone, estrogen, human chorionic gonadotropin, prolactin, and relaxin. Each of these hormones acts to support a tolerogenic immune state of pregnancy, which helps prevent fetal rejection, but may also contribute to an impaired antiviral response. In this review, we address the unique role of adaptive and innate immune cells in the control of pathogenic respiratory viruses and how pregnancy and specific hormones can impact their effector actions. We highlight viruses with sex-specific differences in infection outcomes and why pregnancy hormones may contribute to fetal protection but aid the virus at the expense of the mother's health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orlando Cervantes
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Irene Cruz Talavera
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Emma Every
- University of Washington School of Medicine, Spokane, Washington, United States of America
| | - Brahm Coler
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, Washington, United States of America
| | - Miranda Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York City, New York, United States of America
| | - Amanda Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Case Western Reserve, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Hanning Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Kristina Adams Waldorf
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
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6
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Park JH, Kang I, Lee HK. γδ T Cells in Brain Homeostasis and Diseases. Front Immunol 2022; 13:886397. [PMID: 35693762 PMCID: PMC9181321 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.886397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
γδ T cells are a distinct subset of T cells expressing γδ T cell receptor (TCR) rather than αβTCR. Since their discovery, the critical roles of γδ T cells in multiple physiological systems and diseases have been investigated. γδ T cells are preferentially located at mucosal surfaces, such as the gut, although a small subset of γδ T cells can circulate the blood. Additionally, a subset of γδ T cells reside in the meninges in the central nervous system. Recent findings suggest γδ T cells in the meninges have critical roles in brain function and homeostasis. In addition, several lines of evidence have shown γδ T cells can infiltrate the brain parenchyma and regulate inflammatory responses in multiple diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases. Although the importance of γδ T cells in the brain is well established, their roles are still incompletely understood due to the complexity of their biology. Because γδ T cells rapidly respond to changes in brain status and regulate disease progression, understanding the role of γδ T cells in the brain will provide critical information that is essential for interpreting neuroimmune modulation. In this review, we summarize the complex role of γδ T cells in the brain and discuss future directions for research.
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7
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Yu L, Zhang Y, Xiong J, Liu J, Zha Y, Kang Q, Zhi P, Wang Q, Wang H, Zeng W, Huang Y. Activated γδ T Cells With Higher CD107a Expression and Inflammatory Potential During Early Pregnancy in Patients With Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion. Front Immunol 2021; 12:724662. [PMID: 34484234 PMCID: PMC8416064 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.724662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have reported the involvement of γδ T cells in recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA); however, both pathogenic and protective effects were suggested. To interrogate the role of γδ T cells in RSA, peripheral blood from RSA patients and healthy women with or without pregnancy were analyzed for γδ T cells by flow cytometry (n = 9–11 for each group). Moreover, the decidua from pregnant RSA patients and healthy controls (RSA-P and HC-P group, respectively) was simultaneously stained for γδ T cells by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and bulk sequenced for gene expression. Our results demonstrated that the frequencies of peripheral γδ T cells and their subpopulations in RSA patients were comparable to that in healthy subjects, but the PD1 expression on Vδ2+ cells was increased in pregnant patients. Furthermore, peripheral Vδ2+ cells in RSA-P patients demonstrated significantly increased expression of CD107a, as compared to that in pregnant healthy controls. In addition, RSA-P patients had higher proportion of IL-17A-secreting but not IL-4-secreting Vδ2+ cells compared to the control groups. In decidua, an inflammatory microenvironment was also evident in RSA-P patients, in which CCL8 expression and the infiltration of certain immune cells were higher than that in the HC-P group, as revealed by transcriptional analysis. Finally, although the presence of γδ T cells in decidua could be detected during pregnancy in both RSA patients and healthy subjects by multicolor IHC analysis, the expression of CD107a on γδ T cells was markedly higher in the RSA-P group. Collectively, our results indicated that the increased activation, cytotoxicity, and inflammatory potential of peripheral and/or local γδ T cells might be responsible for the pathogenesis of RSA. These findings could provide a better understanding of the role of γδ T cells in RSA and shed light on novel treatment strategies by targeting γδ T cells for RSA patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long Yu
- Department of Immunology, Medical College, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yang Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Hospital of Chaoyang City, Chaoyang, China
| | - Jinfeng Xiong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jianjun Liu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ying Zha
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Qi Kang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Pan Zhi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Qiang Wang
- Department of Immunology, Medical College, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Wanjiang Zeng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yafei Huang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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8
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Xu QH, Liu H, Wang LL, Zhu Q, Zhang YJ, Muyayalo KP, Liao AH. Roles of γδT cells in pregnancy and pregnancy-related complications. Am J Reprod Immunol 2021; 86:e13487. [PMID: 34331364 DOI: 10.1111/aji.13487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
A successful pregnancy is a complex and unique process comprised of discrete events, including embryo implantation, placentation, and parturition. To maintain the balance between maternal-fetal immune tolerance and resistance to infections, the maternal immune system must have a high degree of stage-dependent plasticity throughout the period of pregnancy. Innate immunity is the frontline force for the establishment of early anti-infection and tolerance mechanisms in mammals. Belonging to the innate immune system, a subset of T cells called γδT cells (based on γδT cell receptors) are the main participants in immune surveillance and immune defense. Unlike traditional αβT cells, γδT cells are regarded as a bridge between innate immunity and acquired immunity. In this review, we summarize current knowledge on the functional plasticity of γδT cells during pregnancy. Furthermore, we discuss the roles of γδT cells in pathological pregnancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian-Han Xu
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Hong Liu
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Li-Ling Wang
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Qian Zhu
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yu-Jing Zhang
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Kahindo P Muyayalo
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ai-Hua Liao
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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9
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Piccinni MP, Raghupathy R, Saito S, Szekeres-Bartho J. Cytokines, Hormones and Cellular Regulatory Mechanisms Favoring Successful Reproduction. Front Immunol 2021; 12:717808. [PMID: 34394125 PMCID: PMC8355694 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.717808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Its semi-allogeneic nature renders the conceptus vulnerable to attack by the maternal immune system. Several protective mechanisms operate during gestation to correct the harmful effects of anti-fetal immunity and to support a healthy pregnancy outcome. Pregnancy is characterized by gross alterations in endocrine functions. Progesterone is indispensable for pregnancy and humans, and it affects immune functions both directly and via mediators. The progesterone-induced mediator - PIBF - acts in favor of Th2-type immunity, by increasing Th2 type cytokines production. Except for implantation and parturition, pregnancy is characterized by a Th2-dominant cytokine pattern. Progesterone and the orally-administered progestogen dydrogesterone upregulate the production of Th2-type cytokines and suppress the production of Th1 and Th17 cytokine production in vitro. This is particularly relevant to the fact that the Th1-type cytokines TNF-α and IFN-γ and the Th17 cytokine IL-17 have embryotoxic and anti-trophoblast activities. These cytokine-modulating effects and the PIBF-inducing capabilities of dydrogesterone may contribute to the demonstrated beneficial effects of dydrogesterone in recurrent spontaneous miscarriage and threatened miscarriage. IL-17 and IL-22 produced by T helper cells are involved in allograft rejection, and therefore could account for the rejection of paternal HLA-C-expressing trophoblast. Th17 cells (producing IL-17 and IL-22) and Th22 cells (producing IL-22) exhibit plasticity and could produce IL-22 and IL-17 in association with Th2-type cytokines or with Th1-type cytokines. IL-17 and IL-22 producing Th cells are not harmful for the conceptus, if they also produce IL-4. Another important protective mechanism is connected with the expansion and action of regulatory T cells, which play a major role in the induction of tolerance both in pregnant women and in tumour-bearing patients. Clonally-expanded Treg cells increase at the feto-maternal interface and in tumour-infiltrating regions. While in cancer patients, clonally-expanded Treg cells are present in peripheral blood, they are scarce in pregnancy blood, suggesting that fetal antigen-specific tolerance is restricted to the foeto-maternal interface. The significance of Treg cells in maintaining a normal materno-foetal interaction is underlined by the fact that miscarriage is characterized by a decreased number of total effector Treg cells, and the number of clonally-expanded effector Treg cells is markedly reduced in preeclampsia. In this review we present an overview of the above mechanisms, attempt to show how they are connected, how they operate during normal gestation and how their failure might lead to pregnancy pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Pierre Piccinni
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Raj Raghupathy
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait, Kuwait
| | - Shigeru Saito
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Julia Szekeres-Bartho
- Department of Medical Biology, Medical School, Pecs University, Pecs, Hungary.,János Szentágothai Research Centre, Pecs University, Pecs, Hungary.,Endocrine Studies, Centre of Excellence, Pecs University, Pecs, Hungary.,MTA - PTE Human Reproduction Research Group, Pecs, Hungary.,National Laboratory for Human Reproduction, Pecs University, Pecs, Hungary
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10
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Monin L, Ushakov DS, Arnesen H, Bah N, Jandke A, Muñoz-Ruiz M, Carvalho J, Joseph S, Almeida BC, Green MJ, Nye E, Hatano S, Yoshikai Y, Curtis M, Carlsen H, Steinhoff U, Boysen P, Hayday A. γδ T cells compose a developmentally regulated intrauterine population and protect against vaginal candidiasis. Mucosal Immunol 2020; 13:969-981. [PMID: 32472066 PMCID: PMC7567646 DOI: 10.1038/s41385-020-0305-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
This most comprehensive analysis to date of γδ T cells in the murine uterus reveals them to compose a unique local T-cell compartment. Consistent with earlier reports, most cells expressed a canonical Vγ6Vδ1 TCR, and produced interleukin (IL)-17A upon stimulation. Nonetheless, contrasting with earlier reports, uterine γδ T cells were not obviously intraepithelial, being more akin to sub-epithelial Vγ6Vδ1+ T cells at several other anatomical sites. By contrast to other tissues however, the uterine compartment also included non-Vγ6+, IFN-γ-producing cells; was strikingly enriched in young mice; expressed genes hitherto associated with the uterus, including the progesterone receptor; and did not require microbes for development and/or maintenance. This notwithstanding, γδ T-cell deficiency severely impaired resistance to reproductive tract infection by Candida albicans, associated with decreased responses of IL-17-dependent neutrophils. These findings emphasise tissue-specific complexities of different mucosal γδ cell compartments, and their evident importance in lymphoid stress-surveillance against barrier infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Monin
- ImmunoSurveillance Lab, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - D S Ushakov
- ImmunoSurveillance Lab, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
- Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences, King's College London, London, SE1 9RT, UK
| | - H Arnesen
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), N-0102, Oslo, Norway
| | - N Bah
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Team, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - A Jandke
- ImmunoSurveillance Lab, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - M Muñoz-Ruiz
- ImmunoSurveillance Lab, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - J Carvalho
- Experimental Histopathology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - S Joseph
- Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, Guy's Hospital, King's College London, London, SE1 9RT, UK
| | - B C Almeida
- Experimental Histopathology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - M J Green
- Experimental Histopathology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - E Nye
- Experimental Histopathology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - S Hatano
- Division of Immunology and Genome Biology, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Y Yoshikai
- Division of Immunology and Genome Biology, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - M Curtis
- Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, Guy's Hospital, King's College London, London, SE1 9RT, UK
| | - H Carlsen
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), 1432, Ås, Norway
| | - U Steinhoff
- Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology, University of Marburg, 35037, Marburg, Germany
| | - P Boysen
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), N-0102, Oslo, Norway
| | - A Hayday
- ImmunoSurveillance Lab, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK.
- Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences, King's College London, London, SE1 9RT, UK.
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11
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Abstract
γδ T cells are a unique T cell subpopulation that are rare in secondary lymphoid organs but enriched in many peripheral tissues, such as the skin, intestines and lungs. By rapidly producing large amounts of cytokines, γδ T cells make key contributions to immune responses in these tissues. In addition to their immune surveillance activities, recent reports have unravelled exciting new roles for γδ T cells in steady-state tissue physiology, with functions ranging from the regulation of thermogenesis in adipose tissue to the control of neuronal synaptic plasticity in the central nervous system. Here, we review the roles of γδ T cells in tissue homeostasis and in surveillance of infection, aiming to illustrate their major impact on tissue integrity, tissue repair and immune protection.
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BuShen HuoXue Decoction Promotes Decidual Stromal Cell Proliferation via the PI3K/AKT Pathway in Unexplained Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2020; 2020:6868470. [PMID: 33082827 PMCID: PMC7556073 DOI: 10.1155/2020/6868470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
BuShen HuoXue decoction (BSHXD) has been used to treat patients with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA). However, the chemical compounds and mechanism by which BSHXD exerts its therapeutic and systemic effects to promote the proliferation of decidual stromal cells (DSCs) has not been elucidated. This work sought to elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanism of BSHXD in terms of inflammatory factors IL-17A in DSCs in vitro because of the critical roles of inflammation, apoptosis, and immunity in the development and progression of pregnancy loss. Twelve migratory chemical compounds from BSHXD extract were qualitatively analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). DSCs were collected from normal early pregnancy (NEP) and URSA to determine whether BSHXD affects IL-17A/IL17RA via the PI3K/AKT pathway. Abnormal apoptosis and activated p-AKT were observed in URSA DSCs. RhIL-17 A, LY294002 (a PI3K pathway inhibitor), and BSHXD were individually or simultaneously administered in NEP DSCs, suggesting that BSHXD restored cell proliferation without excessive stimulation and IL-17A promotes proliferation via the PI3K/AKT pathway. Using the same intervention in URSA DSCs, qRT-PCR measured the upregulated mRNA levels of IL-17 A/IL-17RA, PI3K, AKT, p-AKT, PTEN, Bcl-2, and Bcl-xL and downregulated mRNA levels of BAD and ACT1 after treatment with BSHXD. We demonstrated that BSHXD affected IL-17A/IL-17R via PI3K/AKT pathway to promote the proliferative activity of DSCs in URSA. These results provide a new insight to further clarify the relationship between inflammation and apoptosis and the mechanism of imbalance in the dynamic equilibrium between Th17/Treg immune cells at the maternal-fetal interface.
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13
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Yasumatsu K, Nagao JI, Arita-Morioka KI, Narita Y, Tasaki S, Toyoda K, Ito S, Kido H, Tanaka Y. Bacterial-induced maternal interleukin-17A pathway promotes autistic-like behaviors in mouse offspring. Exp Anim 2020; 69:250-260. [PMID: 32009087 PMCID: PMC7220715 DOI: 10.1538/expanim.19-0156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal immune activation (MIA) by an infection is considered to be an important
environmental factor of fetal brain development. Recent animal model on MIA induced by
polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid, a mimic of viral infection, demonstrates that maternal
IL-17A signaling is required for the development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD)-like
behaviors of offspring. However, there is little information on bacterial infection. In
this study, we aim to elucidate the influence of MIA induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)
to mimic a bacterial infection on fetal brain development. We demonstrated that
LPS-induced MIA promoted ASD-like behaviors in mouse offspring. We further found that LPS
exposure induced acute phase immune response: elevation of serum IL-17A levels in MIA
mothers, upregulation of Il17a mRNA expression and increase of
IL-17A-producing γδ T cells in the uterus, and upregulation of Il17ra
mRNA expression in the fetal brain. Blocking of IL-17A in LPS-induced MIA ameliorated
ASD-like behaviors in offspring. Our data suggest that bacterial-induced maternal IL-17A
pathway promotes ASD-like behaviors in offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanae Yasumatsu
- Section of Infection Biology, Department of Functional Bioscience, Fukuoka Dental College, 2-15-1 Tamura, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka 814-0193, Japan.,Section of Oral Implantology, Department of Oral Rehabilitation, Fukuoka Dental College, 2-15-1 Tamura, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka 814-0193, Japan
| | - Jun-Ichi Nagao
- Section of Infection Biology, Department of Functional Bioscience, Fukuoka Dental College, 2-15-1 Tamura, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka 814-0193, Japan.,Oral Medicine Research Center, Fukuoka Dental College, 2-15-1 Tamura, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka 814-0193, Japan
| | - Ken-Ichi Arita-Morioka
- Section of Infection Biology, Department of Functional Bioscience, Fukuoka Dental College, 2-15-1 Tamura, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka 814-0193, Japan.,Oral Medicine Research Center, Fukuoka Dental College, 2-15-1 Tamura, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka 814-0193, Japan
| | - Yuka Narita
- Section of Infection Biology, Department of Functional Bioscience, Fukuoka Dental College, 2-15-1 Tamura, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka 814-0193, Japan.,Oral Medicine Research Center, Fukuoka Dental College, 2-15-1 Tamura, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka 814-0193, Japan
| | - Sonoko Tasaki
- Section of Infection Biology, Department of Functional Bioscience, Fukuoka Dental College, 2-15-1 Tamura, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka 814-0193, Japan
| | - Keita Toyoda
- Section of Infection Biology, Department of Functional Bioscience, Fukuoka Dental College, 2-15-1 Tamura, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka 814-0193, Japan.,Section of Oral Implantology, Department of Oral Rehabilitation, Fukuoka Dental College, 2-15-1 Tamura, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka 814-0193, Japan
| | - Shoko Ito
- Section of Infection Biology, Department of Functional Bioscience, Fukuoka Dental College, 2-15-1 Tamura, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka 814-0193, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Kido
- Section of Oral Implantology, Department of Oral Rehabilitation, Fukuoka Dental College, 2-15-1 Tamura, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka 814-0193, Japan
| | - Yoshihiko Tanaka
- Section of Infection Biology, Department of Functional Bioscience, Fukuoka Dental College, 2-15-1 Tamura, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka 814-0193, Japan.,Oral Medicine Research Center, Fukuoka Dental College, 2-15-1 Tamura, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka 814-0193, Japan
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14
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Turkeltaub PC, Lockey RF, Holmes K, Friedmann E. Asthma and/or hay fever as predictors of fertility/impaired fecundity in U.S. women: National Survey of Family Growth. Sci Rep 2019; 9:18711. [PMID: 31822754 PMCID: PMC6904488 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-55259-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
This study addresses whether asthma and/or hay fever predict fertility and impaired fecundity. The lifetime number of pregnancies (fertility) and spontaneous pregnancy losses (impaired fecundity) in 10,847 women representative of the U.S. population 15 to 44 years of age with histories of diagnosed asthma and/or hay fever are analyzed in the 1995 National Survey of Family Growth using multivariable Poisson regression with multiple covariates and adjustments for complex sampling. Smokers have significantly increased fertility compared to nonsmokers. Smokers with asthma only have significantly increased fertility compared to other smokers. Higher fertility is associated with impaired fecundity (ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, stillbirth). Women with asthma (with and without hay fever) have significantly higher pregnancy losses than women without asthma. With increasing number of pregnancies, smokers have increased pregnancy losses compared to nonsmokers. Smokers, especially those with asthma only, have increased fertility and require special attention as to their family planning needs, reproductive health, and smoking cessation. Women with asthma, regardless of number of pregnancies, and smokers with higher numbers of pregnancies have high risk pregnancies that require optimal asthma/medical management prenatally and throughout pregnancy. Whether a proinflammatory asthma endotype underlies both the increased fertility and impaired fecundity associated with age and smoking is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Richard F Lockey
- Division of Allergy & Immunology, University of South Florida College of Medicine, 13000 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, Tampa, Florida, 33613, USA
| | - Katie Holmes
- Organizational Systems and Adult Health, University of Maryland School of Nursing, 655 W. Lombard St., Baltimore, Maryland, 21201, USA
- The Hilltop Institute, University of Maryland Baltimore County, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, Maryland, 21250, USA
| | - Erika Friedmann
- Organizational Systems and Adult Health, University of Maryland School of Nursing, 655 W. Lombard St., Baltimore, Maryland, 21201, USA
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15
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Bonney EA, Johnson MR. The role of maternal T cell and macrophage activation in preterm birth: Cause or consequence? Placenta 2019; 79:53-61. [PMID: 30929747 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2019.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The role of the immune system in term (TL) and preterm labor (PTL) is unknown. Despite the fact that globally, PTL remains the most important cause of childhood mortality. Infection, typically of the fetal membranes, termed chorioamnionitis, is the best-understood driver of PTL, but the mechanisms underpinning other causes, including idiopathic and stretch-induced PTL, are unclear, but may well involve activation of the maternal immune system. The final common pathway of placental dysfunction, fetal membrane rupture, cervical dilation and uterine contractions are highly complex processes. At term, choriodecidual rather than myometrial inflammation is thought to drive the onset of labor and similar findings are present in different types of PTL including idiopathic PTL. Although accumulated data has confirmed an association between the immune response and preterm birth, there is yet a need to understand if this response is an initiator or a consequence of tissue-level dysregulation. This review focuses on the potential role of macrophages and T cells in innate and adaptive immunity relevant to preterm birth in humans and animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Bonney
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences University of Vermont, Larner College of Medicine, Burlington, VT, USA.
| | - Mark R Johnson
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
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