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Jiang Y, Lai X, Liu Y, Yang C, Liu Z, Liu X, Yu T, Chen C, Khanniche A, Fan J, Lin Y, Zeng W. CD8 + T cells in fetal membranes display a unique phenotype, and their activation is involved in the pathophysiology of spontaneous preterm birth. J Pathol 2024; 262:240-253. [PMID: 38018407 DOI: 10.1002/path.6229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
Preterm labor/birth is the leading cause of perinatal mortality and morbidity worldwide. Previous studies demonstrated that T cells were crucial for maintaining maternal-fetal immune tolerance during the first trimester of pregnancy; however, their phenotypes and functions in labor and delivery remain largely unknown. We recruited three cohorts of women at delivery for T-cell immunophenotyping in the placentas, fetal membranes, umbilical cord blood, and maternal peripheral blood. Our data showed a differential enrichment of T cells during the third trimester of human pregnancy, with CD4+ T cells being more observable within the umbilical cord blood, whereas CD8+ T cells became relatively more abundant in fetal membranes. CD4+ and CD8+ T cells derived from fetal membranes were dominated by effector memory T cells and exhibited extensive expression of activation markers but decreased expression of homing receptor. In comparison with term births, fetal membrane CD8+ T cells, especially the central memory subset, were significantly increased in frequency and showed more profound activation in spontaneous preterm birth patients. Finally, using an allogeneic mouse model, we found that T-cell-activation-induced preterm birth could be alleviated by the depletion of CD8+ T but not CD4+ T cells in vivo. Collectively, we showed that CD8+ T cells in fetal membranes displayed a unique phenotype, and their activation was involved in the pathophysiology of spontaneous preterm birth, which provides novel insights into the immune mechanisms of preterm birth and potential targets for the prevention of this syndrome. © 2023 The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinan Jiang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, The International Peace Maternity & Child Health Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Xintong Lai
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, The International Peace Maternity & Child Health Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Yuxu Liu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, The International Peace Maternity & Child Health Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Cheng Yang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, PR China
| | - Zhicui Liu
- Department of Dermatology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Xiaorui Liu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, The International Peace Maternity & Child Health Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Tiantian Yu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, The International Peace Maternity & Child Health Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Cailian Chen
- Department of Automation, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Key Laboratory of System Control and Information Processing, Ministry of Education of China, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Asma Khanniche
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Jianxia Fan
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, The International Peace Maternity & Child Health Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Yi Lin
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Weihong Zeng
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, The International Peace Maternity & Child Health Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China
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Taylor EB, George EM. Animal Models of Preeclampsia: Mechanistic Insights and Promising Therapeutics. Endocrinology 2022; 163:6623845. [PMID: 35772781 PMCID: PMC9262036 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqac096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Preeclampsia (PE) is a common pregnancy-specific disorder that is a major cause of both maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Central to the pathogenesis of PE is the production of antiangiogenic and inflammatory factors by the hypoxic placenta, leading to the downstream manifestations of the disease, including hypertension and end-organ damage. Currently, effective treatments are limited for PE; however, the development of preclinical animal models has helped in the development and evaluation of new therapeutics. In this review, we will summarize some of the more commonly used models of PE and highlight their similarities to the human syndrome, as well as the therapeutics tested in each model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin B Taylor
- Correspondence: Erin B. Taylor, PhD, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 N State St, Jackson, MS 39216-4505, USA.
| | - Eric M George
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi 39216-4505, USA
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Fan C, Dai Y, Zhang L, Rui C, Wang X, Luan T, Fan Y, Dong Z, Hou W, Li P, Liao Q, Zeng X. Aerobic Vaginitis Induced by Escherichia coli Infection During Pregnancy Can Result in Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes Through the IL-4/JAK-1/STAT-6 Pathway. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:651426. [PMID: 33897665 PMCID: PMC8058192 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.651426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Aerobic vaginitis (AV) can occur if normal vaginal microflora are dominated by aerobic bacteria, seriously affects not only female health, but also fetal health while they are pregnant. Besides, pregnant status also aggravates the symptoms and consequences of the infection. Here, we infected pregnant BALB/c mice with Escherichia coli on embryonic day 4.5 (E4.5) (study group), and administered an equivalent volume of phosphate-buffered saline in another cohort of pregnant mice (control group). We recorded the weight of pregnant mice and their fetuses. The maternal and fetal weight of the study group decreased in comparison with that of the control group, whereas the weight of placenta increased in the study group. Then, five genes with significant upregulation and 15 genes with downregulation were screened. Expression of interleukin 4 (IL-4) mRNA in the study group decreased to 18.5%. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results showed IL-4 expression in mouse plasma declined in the study group at E11.5 and E18.5. mRNA expression of chemokine (c-c motif) ligand (CCL)-17, CCL-22, CCL-24, IL-4, Janus Kinase (JAK)-1, signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)-6, and GATA-3 showed significant downregulation in placental and uterine tissues. Flow cytometry of primary decidual macrophages (DMs) revealed more M1-like macrophages in the study group. And after addition of IL-4 to DMs, more M1 macrophages polarized to M2 type macrophages. We did not discover bacteria existed in mouse placentas. Our study affords a feasible method for exploring and managing AV during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chong Fan
- Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Youjin Dai
- Key Laboratory of Model Animal Research, Animal Core Facility of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, School of Clinical Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Can Rui
- Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Xinyan Wang
- Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Ting Luan
- Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuru Fan
- Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhiyong Dong
- Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Wenwen Hou
- Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Ping Li
- Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Qinping Liao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, School of Clinical Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xin Zeng
- Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, China
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4
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Zhang L, Zhao Z, Mi H, Liu B, Wang B, Yang L. Modulation of Helper T Cytokines in Thymus during Early Pregnancy in Ewes. Animals (Basel) 2019; 9:ani9050245. [PMID: 31100843 PMCID: PMC6563054 DOI: 10.3390/ani9050245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Revised: 05/11/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The thymus is a main organ of the immune system. Immune tolerance exists in maternal immune system during pregnancy. Helper T (Th)1 and Th2 cytokines regulate the functions of immune system. We found that early pregnancy affected the production of Th1 and Th2 cytokines in maternal thymus in sheep, which may be beneficial for normal pregnancy. Abstract There is an immune tolerance in maternal immune system during pregnancy, and thymus is a main organ of the immune system. Helper T (Th)1 and Th2 cytokines are involved in the regulation of immune system, but the modulation of Th cytokines in the thymus during early pregnancy is unclear in ewes. Thymuses were collected on day 16 of the estrous cycle, and on days 13, 16, and 25 of pregnancy in ewes. qRT-PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry were used to analyze the expression of Th1 and Th2 cytokines in the thymuses. There was a peak in the expression of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) on day 16 of pregnancy, an upregulation of tumor necrosis factor beta (TNF-β), and a sustained expression of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-4. Furthermore, there was a peak in the expression of IL-6 on day 13 of pregnancy, no expression of IL-6 on day 16 of the estrous cycle and day 25 of pregnancy, and an upregulation of IL-5 and IL-10 in the thymuses during early pregnancy. The immunohistochemistry results revealed that the IFN-γ and IL-6 proteins were limited to the stromal cells, capillaries, and thymic corpuscles. In conclusion, early pregnancy influenced the production of Th1 and Th2 cytokines of maternal thymus in sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leying Zhang
- Department of Animal Science, College of Life Sciences and Food Engineering, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan 056021, China.
| | - Zimo Zhao
- Department of Animal Science, College of Life Sciences and Food Engineering, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan 056021, China.
| | - Hao Mi
- Department of Animal Science, College of Life Sciences and Food Engineering, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan 056021, China.
| | - Baoliang Liu
- Department of Animal Science, College of Life Sciences and Food Engineering, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan 056021, China.
| | - Bin Wang
- Department of Animal Science, College of Life Sciences and Food Engineering, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan 056021, China.
| | - Ling Yang
- Department of Animal Science, College of Life Sciences and Food Engineering, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan 056021, China.
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Arenas-Hernandez M, Romero R, Xu Y, Panaitescu B, Garcia-Flores V, Miller D, Ahn H, Done B, Hassan SS, Hsu CD, Tarca AL, Sanchez-Torres C, Gomez-Lopez N. Effector and Activated T Cells Induce Preterm Labor and Birth That Is Prevented by Treatment with Progesterone. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2019; 202:2585-2608. [PMID: 30918041 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1801350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2018] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Preterm labor commonly precedes preterm birth, the leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Most research has focused on establishing a causal link between innate immune activation and pathological inflammation leading to preterm labor and birth. However, the role of maternal effector/activated T cells in the pathogenesis of preterm labor/birth is poorly understood. In this study, we first demonstrated that effector memory and activated maternal T cells expressing granzyme B and perforin are enriched at the maternal-fetal interface (decidua) of women with spontaneous preterm labor. Next, using a murine model, we reported that prior to inducing preterm birth, in vivo T cell activation caused maternal hypothermia, bradycardia, systemic inflammation, cervical dilation, intra-amniotic inflammation, and fetal growth restriction, all of which are clinical signs associated with preterm labor. In vivo T cell activation also induced B cell cytokine responses, a proinflammatory macrophage polarization, and other inflammatory responses at the maternal-fetal interface and myometrium in the absence of an increased influx of neutrophils. Finally, we showed that treatment with progesterone can serve as a strategy to prevent preterm labor/birth and adverse neonatal outcomes by attenuating the proinflammatory responses at the maternal-fetal interface and cervix induced by T cell activation. Collectively, these findings provide mechanistic evidence showing that effector and activated T cells cause pathological inflammation at the maternal-fetal interface, in the mother, and in the fetus, inducing preterm labor and birth and adverse neonatal outcomes. Such adverse effects can be prevented by treatment with progesterone, a clinically approved strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcia Arenas-Hernandez
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI 48201.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201.,Departamento de Biomedicina Molecular, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City 07360, Mexico
| | - Roberto Romero
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI 48201.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109.,Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824.,Center for Molecular Obstetrics and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201
| | - Yi Xu
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI 48201.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201
| | - Bogdan Panaitescu
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI 48201.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201
| | - Valeria Garcia-Flores
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI 48201.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201
| | - Derek Miller
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI 48201.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201
| | - Hyunyoung Ahn
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201
| | - Bogdan Done
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI 48201.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201
| | - Sonia S Hassan
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI 48201.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201.,Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201
| | - Chaur-Dong Hsu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201.,Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201
| | - Adi L Tarca
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI 48201.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201.,Department of Computer Science, Wayne State University College of Engineering, Detroit, MI 48202; and
| | - Carmen Sanchez-Torres
- Departamento de Biomedicina Molecular, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City 07360, Mexico
| | - Nardhy Gomez-Lopez
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI 48201; .,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201.,Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201
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Lannaman K, Romero R, Chaiworapongsa T, Kim YM, Korzeniewski SJ, Maymon E, Gomez-Lopez N, Panaitescu B, Hassan SS, Yeo L, Yoon BH, Kim CJ, Erez O. Fetal death: an extreme manifestation of maternal anti-fetal rejection. J Perinat Med 2017; 45:851-868. [PMID: 28862989 PMCID: PMC5848503 DOI: 10.1515/jpm-2017-0073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2017] [Accepted: 03/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine the association between chronic placental inflammation and amniotic fluid (AF) markers of maternal anti-fetal rejection as well as the presence of microorganisms in the AF fluid of patients with fetal death. STUDY DESIGN This cohort study included 40 patients with fetal death whose placentas were examined for chronic inflammatory lesions and whose AF chemokine ligand (CXCL)10 and interleukin (IL)-6 concentrations were determined by immunoassays. AF was processed for bacteria, mycoplasmas and viruses using cultivation and molecular microbiologic techniques (i.e. PCR-ESI/MS). RESULTS (1) The most prevalent placental findings were maternal vascular underperfusion (63.2%, 24/38), followed by chronic inflammatory lesions (57.9%, 22/38); (2) chronic chorioamnionitis (18/38) was three times more frequent than villitis of unknown etiology (6/38); (3) an elevated AF CXCL10 concentration (above the 95th centile) was present in 60% of the cases, and a receiver operating characteristics (ROC)-derived cut-off of 2.9 ng/mL had a sensitivity of 73% and a specificity of 75% in the identification of chronic placental inflammatory lesions; (4) only five cases had microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity, and the presence of microorganisms did not correlate with chronic placental inflammation. CONCLUSION In women with unexplained fetal death, there is an association between elevated AF CXCL10 and chronic placental inflammatory lesions. Therefore, we conclude that a subset of patients with fetal death may have endured a breakdown of maternal-fetal tolerance, which cannot be attributed to microorganisms in the amniotic cavity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kia Lannaman
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Roberto Romero
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Tinnakorn Chaiworapongsa
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Yeon Mee Kim
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Pathology, Haeundae Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Steven J. Korzeniewski
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Eli Maymon
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Nardhy Gomez-Lopez
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Bogdan Panaitescu
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Sonia S. Hassan
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Lami Yeo
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Bo Hyun Yoon
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Chong Jai Kim
- Department of Pathology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Offer Erez
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
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Bonney EA, Brown SA. To drive or be driven: the path of a mouse model of recurrent pregnancy loss. Reproduction 2014; 147:R153-67. [PMID: 24472815 DOI: 10.1530/rep-13-0583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
This review is an example of the use of an animal model to try to understand the immune biology of pregnancy. A well-known model of recurrent spontaneous pregnancy loss is put in clinical, historical, and theoretical context, with emphasis on T cell biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Bonney
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Given Building, 89 Beaumont Avenue, Burlington, Vermont 05404, USA
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8
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE Inflammation is necessary for successful pregnancy; however, excessive inflammation plays a central role in the development of the pregnancy-specific hypertensive disorder preeclampsia. Numerous anti-inflammatory cytokines are decreased in women with preeclampsia but the role of individual cytokines in blood pressure regulation during pregnancy is unknown. Therefore, we examined whether the lack of the potent anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-4 (IL-4) would be sufficient to elicit a preeclampsia-like syndrome in mice, and when coupled with immune system activation that these symptoms would be further augmented. METHODS Measures of splenic immune cells, placental inflammation, blood pressure, endothelial function, and urinary protein excretion were performed in pregnant IL-4-deficient mice as well as in pregnant IL-4-deficient mice treated with the Toll-like receptor 3 agonist polyinosinic:polycytidylic (poly I:C). RESULTS Pregnant IL-4-deficient mice exhibited altered splenic immune cell subsets, increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, placental inflammation, mild hypertension, endothelial dysfunction, and proteinuria compared to pregnant control mice. Compared to pregnant control mice treated with poly I:C which exhibit preeclampsia-like symptoms, poly I:C-treated pregnant IL-4-deficient mice exhibited a further increase in pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, which was associated with augmented SBP and endothelial dysfunction. CONCLUSION Collectively, these data show that the absence of IL-4 is sufficient to induce mild preeclampsia-like symptoms in mice due to excessive inflammation. Thus, the anti-inflammatory effects of IL-4 are important in preventing hypertension during pregnancy.
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9
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Jalali BM, Kitewska A, Wasielak M, Bodek G, Bogacki M. Effects of seminal plasma and the presence of a conceptus on regulation of lymphocyte-cytokine network in porcine endometrium. Mol Reprod Dev 2014; 81:270-81. [PMID: 24382630 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.22297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2013] [Accepted: 12/26/2013] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Infusion of seminal plasma in the uterus is known to elicit an instant inflammatory response in the porcine uterus, but whether or not it prepares a uterine immunological response to the presence of conceptuses is not well understood. Seminal plasma induced long-term modulatory effects and conceptus-induced immune changes in leukocyte populations were measured by flow cytometry and mRNAs for various cytokines by quantitative reverse-transcriptase PCR in porcine endometrium collected on Days 6 and 13 from cycling and pregnant animals or from animals given seminal plasma infusions. Seminal plasma infusion induced long-term modulatory effects, resulting in significantly more endometrial FoxP3-positive T-regulatory and T-helper cells 6 days after infusion as compared to cycling and pregnant animals. The number of T-cytotoxic and T-null cells did not change between the studied groups. The early molecular effects of seminal plasma were not observed at 13-days post-infusion, although animals on Day 13 of pregnancy did show significantly more T-cells (of any type investigated). Seminal plasma also showed a delayed effect on cytokine expression, specifically exhibiting a significant increase in interleukin 10 (IL10) and a decrease in granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GMCSF) gene expression on Day 13 as compared to Day 6 of cycling or pregnant gilts. The results indicate a delayed regulatory effect of seminal plasma on immune responses in the porcine uterus, which are similar to immune changes generated by implanting conceptuses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beenu Moza Jalali
- Department of Gamete and Embryo Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of Polish Academy of Sciences, Olsztyn, Poland
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10
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Norton MT, Fortner KA, Oppenheimer KH, Bonney EA. Evidence that CD8 T-cell homeostasis and function remain intact during murine pregnancy. Immunology 2011; 131:426-37. [PMID: 20553337 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2567.2010.03316.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Evolving models of immune tolerance have challenged the view that the response of the maternal immune system to environmental or fetal antigens must be suppressed or deviated. CD8 T cells play a central role in the immune response to viruses and intracellular pathogens so the maintenance of both the number and function of these cells is critical to protect both the mother and fetus. We show that the numbers of maternal CD8 T cells in both the spleen and the uterine draining lymph nodes are transiently increased at mid-gestation and this correlates with enhanced CD8 T-cell proliferation and an increased relative expression of both pro-survival and pro-apoptotic molecules. In transgenic mice bearing T-cell antigen receptors specific for the male HY or allo-antigens, the transgenic CD8 T cells retain the ability to proliferate and function during pregnancy. Moreover, anti-HY T-cell receptor transgenic mice have normal numbers of male pups despite the presence of CD8 T cells at the maternal-fetal interface. These data suggest that pregnancy is a dynamic state in which CD8 T-cell turnover is increased while the function and ending size of the CD8 T-cell compartment are maintained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle T Norton
- University of Vermont College of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
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Abstract
Recent advances in our understanding of dendritic cells (DCs) and their role in tolerance and immunity has fuelled study of their normal development and function within the reproductive tract. The common hypothesis that pregnancy is a state of immune suppression or deviation now includes the idea that alterations in DC phenotype and function are critical for maternal tolerance. We chose to study DCs in the uterus and lymphoid tissue in non-pregnant and pregnant mice at mid-gestation to understand what DC-related factors may be involved in premature birth. We used a mouse model where the mother's immune system has been shown to respond to the male antigen H-Y. Observed differences among DCs in the uterus, uterine draining nodes and spleen, even in non-pregnant mice, suggest the existence of a specialized uterus-specific subset of DCs. We further found that, amongst CD45(+) CD11c(+) cells in the uterus and peripheral lymphoid tissue of pregnant mice, expression of major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC II) and costimulatory molecules (i.e. CD80) was similar to that in the non-pregnant state. Moreover, there was no pregnancy-related decrease in the proportion of CD11c(+) cells in the uterus or in the uterine node that were CD11b(-) CD8(+). Pregnancy increased the CD11b(+) subsets and the expression of chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 6 (CCL6) in DCs of the uterine draining nodes. Finally, DC subsets showed variable expression, with respect to tissue and pregnancy, of the cytokine interleukin-15, which is important in lymphoid cell homeostasis. For DCs, pregnancy is not a state of immune paralysis, but of dynamic developmental change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peyman Bizargity
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT, USA
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Abstract
Signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs) are a group of proteins involved in signal transduction from numerous bioactive substances. Hormones and cytokines such as leukaemia inhibitory factor, interferon-tau and prolactin, which play key roles during early pregnancy, activate the Janus kinase (JAK)/STAT signalling pathway. The STATs are thus involved in the regulation of implantation, establishing uterine receptivity and regulation of the maternal immune response. It seems that STATs can orchestrate signals from hormones and cytokines in different cell types and may therefore generate numerous biological effects, despite the relatively small number of receptors activating the JAK/STAT pathway. This review summarizes the participation of STATs in the main processes of early pregnancy, especially regarding their pleiotropy and redundancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Maj
- Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Science, Wroclaw, Poland
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Bonney EA. Preeclampsia: a view through the danger model. J Reprod Immunol 2007; 76:68-74. [PMID: 17482268 PMCID: PMC2246056 DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2007.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2007] [Revised: 03/11/2007] [Accepted: 03/14/2007] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Classical thinking suggests that the immune system undergoes activation on the basis of discrimination between 'self' and 'non-self'. Accordingly, the fetus activates the mother's immune system because the fetus is in part 'non-self'. Thus, successful pregnancy depends on constraint of maternal immunity. Preeclampsia is an outcome of lost constraint. Instead, the danger model suggests that normal pregnancy, regardless of the expression of 'non-self' antigens, does not activate the maternal immune system unless that pregnancy expresses danger signals. Thus, preeclampsia stems from stress or abnormal cell death in pregnancy-related tissues. This compels expression of specific danger signals and potential activation of anti-fetal immunity, which secondarily feeds the syndrome. Study of preeclampsia from this perspective may bring forth novel mechanisms and indicators of vascular and metabolic dysfunction during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Bonney
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Given Building, Room C-244, 89 Beaumont Avenue, Burlington, VT 05405, USA.
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Breathnach CC, Sturgill-Wright T, Stiltner JL, Adams AA, Lunn DP, Horohov DW. Foals are interferon gamma-deficient at birth. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2006; 112:199-209. [PMID: 16621024 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2006.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2006] [Revised: 02/17/2006] [Accepted: 02/20/2006] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The increased vulnerability of foals to specific pathogens such as Rhodococcus equi is believed to reflect an innate immunodeficiency, the nature of which remains poorly understood. Previous studies have demonstrated that neonates of many species fail to mount potent Th1 responses. The current research investigates the ability of circulating and pulmonary lymphocytes of developing foals to produce interferon gamma (IFNgamma). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were prepared from up to 10 horse foals at regular intervals throughout the first 6 months of life. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples were collected at 1, 3 or 6 months of age from three groups of five foals. The PBMC and BAL cells were stimulated in vitro and IFNgamma production was measured by intracellular staining. In addition, RNA was extracted from freshly isolated and in vitro stimulated PBMC and BAL cells for quantitation of IFNgamma gene expression by real time PCR. Newborn foals exhibited a marked inability to express the IFNgamma gene and produce IFNgamma protein. This deficiency was observed in both circulating and pulmonary lymphocytes. However, IFNgamma gene expression and protein production increased steadily throughout the first 6 months of life, reaching adult levels within the first year of life. These findings suggest that foals are born with an inherent inability to mount a Th1-based cell mediated immune response which may contribute to their susceptibility to intracellular pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- C C Breathnach
- Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546-0099, USA
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Faas MM, Eenling R, van der Schaaf G, Moes H, Heineman MJ, Vos P. Cytokine production of in vitro stimulated peripheral lymphocytes during the course of pregnancy and pseudopregnancy in the rat. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2006; 55:282-90. [PMID: 16533340 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0897.2005.00361.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
PROBLEM Does maternal lymphocyte cytokine production after in vitro stimulation vary with the stage of pregnancy in the rat? METHOD OF STUDY Blood samples were taken during the estrus cycle in rats (n = 11). Thereafter, rats were rendered pregnant (n = 6) or pseudopregnant (n = 5) and blood samples were taken at days 4, 8, 11, 15, and 20 of pregnancy and pseudopregnancy. White blood cell (WBC) count was measured and whole blood was stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and calcium ionophore; interferon-gamma (IFNgamma) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) production as well as (sub)populations of lymphocytes were measured using flow cytometry. RESULTS We observed an increase of WBC in the second week of pregnancy and a slowly decreasing percentage of lymphocytes during the course of pregnancy. The percentage IFNgamma producing T-lymphocytes after in vitro stimulation was increased during pregnancy (for Th-lymphocytes only in the second week of pregnancy, for Tc-lymphocytes at all days). This increased IFNgamma production in pregnant T-lymphocytes was accompanied by an increase during pseudopregnancy, and therefore may result from increased sex hormone concentrations. The percentage IFNgamma producing natural killer (NK) cells after in vitro stimulation was decreased on day 20 of pregnancy. No effect of pregnancy or pseudopregnancy was seen on percentage IL-4 producing lymphocytes after in vitro stimulation. CONCLUSION In the rat the IFNgamma production after in vitro stimulation varies during pregnancy and is increased, rather than decreased, during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- M M Faas
- Transplantation Biology and Immunoendocrinology, Division of Medical Biology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University Medical Centre Groningen and University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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Fest S, Zenclussen AC, Joachim R, Hagen E, Demuth HU, Hoffmann T. Stress and substance P but not the substance P-metabolite SP5-11 trigger murine abortion by augmenting TNF-alpha levels at the feto-maternal interface. Scand J Immunol 2006; 63:42-9. [PMID: 16398700 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3083.2005.001711.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
In a well-established murine abortion model, stress is thought to trigger fetal rejection by inducing a proinflammatory immune response via substance P (SP), being tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha-producing CD8+ T cells involved. Interestingly, the SP metabolite SP5-11 also binds to SP receptors and mediates SP-like effects on immune cells at sites of inflammation. No data were available regarding the effects of SP5-11 on pregnancy outcome in the CBA/J x DBA/2J abortion-prone combination. We investigated the influence of SP5-11 in contrast to stress or SP on the abortion rate and the cytokine production by lymphocytes as well as on the levels of CD8+ T cells. Stress and SP boosted the abortion rate and increased the percentage of type 1 [TNF-alpha, interferon-gamma, interleukin (IL)-12] and type 2 (IL-4 and IL-10) cytokine-producing lymphocytes in blood and decidua, predominantly CD8+ T cells. Interestingly, SP5-11 did not significantly affect the abortion rate or cytokine production in the decidua, while increasing the Th1 and Th2 cytokine production systemically. Our data suggest that stress and SP induce abortion by augmenting the local levels of TNF-alpha, which seems therefore to be a potent trigger of miscarriage. On the contrary, the SP metabolite SP5-11 only affects the systemic cytokine production without boosting the abortion rate in this experimental model.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Fest
- Department of General Pediatrics, Charité, Humboldt-University, Biomedizinisches Forschungszentrum, Berlin, Germany.
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Abstract
It has been suggested that the maternal immune system favors noncytotoxic, "TH-2" immune responses in order to tolerate the developing fetus. In some strains of mice, pregnant females will reject a male skin graft, even as they tolerate their male fetuses. This rejection is based on responsiveness to the male antigen H-Y. In this study we test whether functional maternal tolerance of male fetuses is critically dependent on the TH-2 cytokine Interleukin 10 (IL-10). Normal and IL-10-deficient (10-KO) females were sensitized against H-Y by intraperitoneal injection of male spleen cells before mating with 10-KO males. Litters born to 10-KO females were of comparable size to those born to normal females of the same genetic background. The proportion of males per litter was not adversely affected by IL-10 deficiency. Taken together, our work and others suggest that IL-10 may not be critically important for maternal tolerance of the fetus and extends the evidence against the idea that successful mouse pregnancy depends on TH-2 deviation of the maternal immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Bonney
- Departments of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
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Bonney EA, Onyekwuluje J. The H-Y response in mid-gestation and long after delivery in mice primed before pregnancy. Immunol Invest 2003; 32:71-81. [PMID: 12722943 DOI: 10.1081/imm-120019209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
The mechanisms underlying maternal tolerance of the semi-allogeneic fetus are not completely understood. The maternal immune system's response to the male antigen, H-Y is an example of the conflicting evidence that both supports and refutes the idea that the immune system in pregnant females is fundamentally different from that in non-pregnant females. Although multiple pregnancies may inactivate H-Y specific T cells, the immune system of the pregnant female can also generate a cytotoxic response to this antigen. To help understand this apparent conflict, we immunized female mice against H-Y with male spleen cells before pregnancy and examined the subsequent anti H-Y response during mid-pregnancy. The pregnant mice studied were able to mount cytotoxic immune responses to H-Y that were equivalent to those generated in their non-pregnant counterparts. Moreover the experience of pregnancy did not impair the ability to maintain immunologic memory to H-Y. The data support the idea that pregnancy does not violate general rules of antigen specific immunity, even if the antigen is expressed on the fetus.
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Affiliation(s)
- E A Bonney
- Gynecology, Immunology and Infectious Disease Laboratory, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
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Luppi P, Haluszczak C, Betters D, Richard CAH, Trucco M, DeLoia JA. Monocytes are progressively activated in the circulation of pregnant women. J Leukoc Biol 2002. [DOI: 10.1189/jlb.72.5.874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Patrizia Luppi
- Division of Immunogenetics Department of Pediatrics, Rangos Research Center, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and
| | - Catherine Haluszczak
- Division of Immunogenetics Department of Pediatrics, Rangos Research Center, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and
| | - Dawn Betters
- Division of Immunogenetics Department of Pediatrics, Rangos Research Center, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and
| | - Craig A. H. Richard
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences and Magee Women’s Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Pennsylvania
| | - Massimo Trucco
- Division of Immunogenetics Department of Pediatrics, Rangos Research Center, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and
| | - Julie A. DeLoia
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences and Magee Women’s Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Pennsylvania
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