Embryo-Derived Cathepsin B Promotes Implantation and Decidualization by Activating Pyroptosis

Embryo implantation and decidualization are crucial for a successful pregnancy. How the inflammatory response is regulated during these processes is undefined. Pyroptosis is an inflammatory form of cell death mediated by gasdermin D (GSDMD). Through in vivo, cultured epithelial cells and organoids, it is shown that pyroptosis occurs in epithelial cells at the implantation site. Compared with those on day 4 of pseudopregnancy and delayed implantation, pyroptosis-related protein levels are significantly increased on day 4 of pregnancy and activated implantation, suggesting that blastocysts are involved in regulating pyroptosis. Blastocyst-derived cathepsin B (CTSB) is stimulated by preimplantation estradiol-17β and induces pyroptosis in epithelial cells. Pyroptosis-induced IL-18 secretion from epithelial cells activates a disintegrin and metalloprotease 12 (ADAM12) to process the epiregulin precursor into mature epiregulin. Epiregulin (EREG) enhances in vitro decidualization in mice. Pyroptosis-related proteins are detected in the mid-secretory human endometrium and are elevated in the recurrent implantation failure endometrium. Lipopolysaccharide treatment in pregnant mice causes implantation failure and increases pyroptosis-related protein levels. Therefore, the data suggest that modest pyroptosis is beneficial for embryo implantation and decidualization. Excessive pyroptosis can be harmful and lead to pregnancy failure.

Efficacy and safety of Gushen Antai Pills combined with dydrogesterone in the treatment of threatened miscarriage: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Despite some progress has been made in the pathogenesis and treatment of threatened miscarriage (TM), conventional treatment remains suboptimal. Thus, complementary medicine gradually become a new treatment option for treating threatened miscarriage. Gushen Antai Pills (GAP), a classic prescription of Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has became a popular complementary therapy to conventional western medicine (dydrogesterone) in treating threatened miscarriage in recent years. However, a systematic summary and analysis for its therapeutic effects is lacking. This meta-analysis aimed to systematically evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Gushen Antai Pills combined with dydrogesterone in the treatment of threatened miscarriage. Methods: A systematic search across seven electronic databases was conducted from inception to 17 September 2022. Studies were included if they were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effect of integrating Gushen Antai Pills and dydrogesterone in patients with threatened miscarriage, and reported the outcomes of interest. All statistical analyses were conducted using the Revman5.3 and Stata 13 software. The GRADE system was used to evaluate the quality of evidence. Results: Ten eligible randomized controlled trials involving 950 participants were contained in this meta-analysis. The pooled analysis showed that Gushen Antai Pills combined with dydrogesterone can significantly reduce the incidence of early pregnancy loss (RR: 0.29; 95% CI: 0.19-0.42; p < 0.00001) and alleviate clinical symptoms (RR: 1.39; 95% CI: 1.22-1.59; p < 0.00001), compared with treatment of dydrogesterone alone. Also, meta-analysis indicated that integrating Gushen Antai Pills and dydrogesterone is more effective than using dydrogesterone alone in improving hormone levels (serum levels of progesterone, β-HCG and estradiol) for women with threatened miscarriage (all p < 0.00001). Meanwhile, the combined effects with significant heterogeneity also showed favorable consistency in the sensitivity analyses, indicating a good stability of present results. Moreover, no significant differences between Gushen Antai Pills combined with dydrogesterone and control group on adverse events was identified. The overall GRADE qualities were low to moderate. Conclusion: The overall available evidence suggested that Gushen Antai Pills combined with dydrogesterone had significant effects in improving pregnancy success rate, clinical symptoms and hormone levels for women with threatened miscarriage, with considerable safety and reliability. However, due to the partial heterogeneity, suboptimal quality and high risk of bias of some included studies, further rigorously designed randomized controlled trials are required. Systematic Review Registration: identifier https://INPLASY2022120035, https://inplasy.com/inplasy-2022-12-0035/.

Preparation and In Vitro Evaluation of a Gadolinium-Containing Vitamin E TPGS Micelle as a Potential Contrast Agent for MR Imaging

The application of many currently evaluated macromolecular contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been limited because of their bio-incompatibility and toxicity. The aim of this study is to synthesize and characterize a new micelle-based TPGS gadolinium chelate as a biocompatible MRI contrast agent for prolonged blood circulation time and good tumor imaging contrast. The TPGS-gadolinium conjugate was prepared through the conjugation between TPGS-SA and bifunctional L-NETA-Gd chelate. The conjugate was characterized with regard to molecular weight, critical micellar concentration and particle sizes, cellular uptake, and in vitro cell MRI. Distributions of the MRI contrast agent in various organs were determined via intravenous injection of the agent into mice bearing xenograft tumors. The successfully prepared TPGS-L-NETA-Gd micelle exhibited improved cellular uptake in HepG2 cells and xenografts and high in vivo safety. Distributions of TPGS-L-NETA-Gd in mice showed enhanced cellular uptake up to 2 h after the contrast agent injection. Its in vitro and in vivo properties make it a favorable macromolecular MRI contrast agent for future in vivo imaging.

Baicalin alleviates endometrial inflammatory injury through regulation of tight junction proteins

Endometritis is the foremost reason for reduced reproductive performance, which impedes the establishment of pregnancy in ruminants. Baicalin is extensively acknowledged as a tocolytic drug. However, the preventive effect of baicalin on endometrial inflammatory injury remains unclear. The present study aimed to determine the potential benefits of baicalin on endometrial inflammatory injury in animal and cellular models. The results showed that baicalin alleviated the impairment of tight junctions (TJs) and inflammation in the endometrium induced by LPS treatment. Baicalin increased claudin 3 (CLDN3) and tight junction protein 1 (TJP1) levels in a dose-dependent manner in endometrial epithelial cells (EECs) accompanied by autophagy activation with or without LPS treatment. Immunofluorescence staining revealed that baicalin pretreatment prompted MAP1LC3B-positive structures to surround TJ proteins in the cytoplasm and decreased the abnormal aggregation of CLDN3 and TJP1 in the cytosol of EECs. Activation or blockage of autophagy using pharmacologic methods affected the redistribution of TJ proteins by baicalin pretreatment with LPS treatment. The role of autophagy in the modulation of TJ proteins was also confirmed by ATG7 and TFEB overexpression, as evidenced by accelerated redistribution of CLDN3 and TJP1 from the EEC cytosol to the membrane and a loss of membranous CLDN2 in EECs. These data demonstrate that baicalin influences the redistribution of TJ proteins to maintain the barrier function during LPS-induced endometrial inflammatory injury by regulating autophagy and provides a new therapeutic to potentially prevent embryo loss and endometritis.

Baicalin improves the functions of granulosa cells and the ovary in aged mice through the mTOR signaling pathway

Background

The mammalian follicle is the basic functional unit of the ovary, and its normal development is required to obtaining oocytes capable of fertilization. As women get older or decline in ovarian function due to certain pathological factors, the growth and development of follicles becomes abnormal, which ultimately leads to infertility and other related female diseases. Kuntai capsules are currently used in clinical practice to improve ovarian function, and they contain the natural compound Baicalin, which is a natural compound with important biological activities. At present, the role and mechanism of Baicalin in the development of ovarian follicles is unclear.

Methods

Human primary granulosa cells collected from follicular fluid, and then cultured and treated with Baicalin or its normal control, assessed for viability, subjected to RT-PCR, western blotting, flow cytometry, and hormone analyses. The estrus cycle and oocytes of CD-1 mice were studied after Baicalin administration and compared with controls. Ovaries were collected from the mice and subjected to hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunohistochemistry analysis.

Results

We showed that Baicalin had a dose-dependent effect on granulosa cells cultured in vitro. A low concentration of Baicalin (for example, 10 μM) helped to maintain the viability of granulosa cells; however, at a concentration exceeding 50 μM, it exerted a toxic effect. A low concentration significantly improved the viability of granulosa cells and inhibited cell apoptosis, which may be related to the resultant upregulation of Bcl-2 expression and downregulation of Bax and Caspase 3. By constructing a hydrogen peroxide-induced cell oxidative stress damage model, we found that Baicalin reversed the cell damage caused by hydrogen peroxide. In addition, Baicalin increased the secretion of estradiol and progesterone by upregulating P450arom and stAR. The results of the in vivo experiment showed that the intragastric administration of Baicalin to aged mice improved the estrous cycle and oocyte quality. Furthermore, we observed that Baicalin enhanced the viability of granulosa cells through the mTOR pathway, which in turn improve ovarian function.

Conclusion

These results indicate that Baicalin could improve the viability of ovarian granulosa cells and the secretion of steroid hormones and thus could help to improve degenerating ovarian function and delay ovarian aging.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13048-022-00965-7.

Endometriosis with infertility: A comprehensive review on the role of immune deregulation and immunomodulation therapy

BACKGROUND

Endometriosis is a multifactorial pathology dependent on intrinsic and extrinsic factors, but the immune deregulation seems to play a pivotal role. In endometriosis-associated infertility, this could raise the benefit of immunomodulatory strategies to improve the results of ART. In this review, we will describe (1) sera and peritoneal fluid cytokines and immune markers; (2) autoantibodies; and (3) immunomodulatory treatments in endometriosis with infertility.

METHODS

The literature research was conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library with the following keywords: "endometriosis", "unexplained miscarriage", "implantation failure", "recurrent implantation failure » and « IVF-ICSI », « biomarkers of autoimmunity", "TNF-α", "TNF-α antagonists", "infliximab", "adalimumab", "etanercept", "immunomodulatory treatment", "steroids", "intralipids", "intravenous immunoglobulins", "G-CSF", "pentoxyfylline".

RESULTS

Several studies analyzed the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in sera and peritoneal fluid of endometriosis-associated infertility, in particular TNF-α. Various autoantibodies have been found in peritoneal fluid and sera of infertile endometriosis women even in the absence of clinically defined autoimmune disease, as antinuclear, anti-SSA, and antiphospholipid autoantibodies. In few uncontrolled studies, steroids and TNF-α antagonists could increase the pregnancy rates in endometriosis-associated infertility, but well-designed trials are lacking.

CONCLUSION

Endometriosis is characterized by increased levels of cytokines and autoantibodies. This suggests the role of inflammation and immune cell deregulation in infertility associated with endometriosis. The strategies of immunomodulation to regulate these immune deregulations are poorly studied, and well-designed studies are necessary.

Antenatal pentoxifylline therapy to prevent endotoxin-induced fetal injury in the preterm goat model

Objective:

Pentoxifylline (PTX) has immunomodulatory properties and is known to reduce sepsis-associated infant mortality. We aimed to evaluate maternal oral and intra-amniotic administration of PTX for the prevention of fetal inflammation and injury in a caprine model.

Materials and Methods:

Inflammation-mediated fetal injury was induced with maternal granulocyte-colony stimulating factor and intra-amniotic endotoxin at 0.76 of gestation in date-mated pregnant goats. Eight groups were formed (n=4 each): Control, fetal injury, oral 30 mg/kg/day and 60 mg/kg/day PTX for 15 days + fetal injury, intra-amniotic 400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg estimated fetal weight single-dose PTX with and without fetal injury. Preterm delivery by hysterotomy was performed at 0.80 of gestation to evaluate the fetal and placental effects. Immunochemistry for various markers including interleukins, caspases, cyclooxygenases, vimentin, myelin basic protein, and surfactant proteins were carried out in the fetal lungs, fetal brain, and placenta. Fetal plasma and amniotic fluid interleukins were also evaluated. Kruskal-Wallis H test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for comparisons.

Results:

High-dose (60 mg/kg/day) maternal prophylactic oral treatment attenuated endotoxin-related histological injury and was related to low inflammatory marker expressions comparable to the controls (p>0.05 except cyclooxygenase 2). Following maternal oral administration, fetal plasma and amniotic fluid levels of the studied interleukins were also lower than the untreated endotoxin-exposed animals (p<0.05 for all comparisons). Intra-amniotic PTX was associated with inconsistent results and increased inflammatory markers in some fetuses.

Conclusion:

Oral PTX before preterm birth mitigates intrauterine inflammation with neuroprotective effects in the fetus. PTX can be considered as a candidate drug for fetal brain injury prevention in the preterm period.

Baicalin improves the in vitro developmental capacity of pig embryos by inhibiting apoptosis, regulating mitochondrial activity and activating sonic hedgehog signaling

Baicalin, a traditional Chinese medicinal monomer whose chemical structure is known, can be used to treat female infertility. However, the effect of baicalin on embryonic development is unknown. This study investigated the effects of baicalin on in vitro development of parthenogenetically activated (PA) and in vitro fertilized (IVF) pig embryos and the underlying mechanisms involved. Treatment with 0.1 μg/ml baicalin significantly improved (P < 0.05) the in vitro developmental capacity of PA pig embryos by reducing the reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and apoptosis and increasing the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and ATP level. mRNA and protein expression of sonic hedgehog (SHH) and GLI1, which are related to the SHH signaling pathway, in PA pig embryos at the 2-cell stage, were significantly higher in the baicalin-treated group than in the control group. To confirm that the SHH signaling pathway is involved in the mechanism by which baicalin improves embryonic development, we treated embryos with baicalin in the absence or presence of cyclopamine (Cy), an inhibitor of this pathway. Cy abolished the effects of baicalin on in vitro embryonic development. In conclusion, baicalin improves the in vitro developmental capacity of PA and IVF pig embryos by inhibiting ROS production and apoptosis, regulating mitochondrial activity and activating SHH signaling.

Baicalin improves IVM of pig oocytes and subsequent preimplantation embryo development by inhibiting apoptosis

Baicalin, a monomer of flavonoids extracted from dried roots of Scutellaria baicalensis, is used to treat female infertility. However, the effect of baicalin on oocyte maturation is unknown. In this study we investigated the effects of baicalin on the IVM of pig oocytes and subsequent embryo development following parthenogenetic activation (PA). We found that 0.1µgmL-1 baicalin significantly (P<0.05) increased the IVM rate of oocytes compared with the non-treatment (control) group by reducing levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In addition, the mRNA expression of genes related to nuclear maturation and cumulus cell expansion, mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP content was significantly (P<0.05) higher in baicalin-treated than control oocytes. To determine whether baicalin treatment during IVM of pig oocytes improves subsequent development of PA embryos, we measured the cleavage and blastocyst formation rates, as well as the number of cells per blastocyst. All these parameters were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the baicalin-treated than control group. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that baicalin improves pig oocyte maturation and subsequent embryo development invitro by inhibiting production of ROS and reducing apoptosis in oocytes.

The protective effect of berberine against lipopolysaccharide-induced abortion by modulation of inflammatory/immune responses

OBJECTIVE

Berberine is an isoquinoline derivative alkaloid with anti-inflammatory activity. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of berberine in prevention of LPS-induced abortion.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

On the gestation day (GD) 9.5, the pregnant mice were injected with low, medium, and high doses of berberine or with PBS. After 4 h, berberine or PBS-pretreated mice were injected with LPS. On GD 11.5, blood samples and uterine tissues were collected from treated mice and percentage of abortion and serum levels of NO, TNF-α, IL-10, and IL12p70 were measured by macroscopic examination and sandwich ELISA, respectively.

RESULTS

Our findings show that mice injected with berberine were resistant to LPS-induced abortion. We also found that this treatment prevents the reduction of IL-10 and the enhancement of NO, TNF-α, and IL-12p70 in LPS-treated pregnant mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, our results suggest that berberine as an anti-inflammatory agent has protective effects on LPS-induced abortion by modulation of inflammatory/immune responses.

Protective Effects of Interferon-tau Against Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Embryo Implantation Failure in Pregnant Mice

Interferon-tau (IFN-τ), a novel type I interferon, is produced by trophoblast cells in ruminants. Previous studies have confirmed that IFN-τ could induce immunological tolerance in humans and other species. However, there are few reports on whether IFN-τ has a protective effect on embryo implantation failure caused by excessive inflammation at the maternal-fetal interface. In our study, a mouse model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced implantation failure was successfully established, and we investigated the protective effects of IFN-τ. First, we showed that IFN-τ increased the number of implanted embryos in LPS-treated pregnant mice. Subsequently, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and ELISA results showed that several inflammatory cytokines [IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)] whose expression was upregulated by LPS were reversed by IFN-τ treatment. Furthermore, we performed Western blotting and found that IFN-τ restrained the LPS-induced phosphorylation of IκBα and NF-κB p65. Moreover, qPCR and immunohistochemistry analyses showed that IFN-τ decreased the LPS-induced expression of mouse major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I genes (H-2K and H-2D) in LPS-treated pregnant mice. Taken together, these results suggest that IFN-τ has a protective effect in LPS-induced implantation failure by downregulating MHC class I genes expression and inhibiting the production of inflammatory cytokines.

Disruption of female reproductive function by endotoxins

Endotoxemia can be caused by obesity, environmental chemical exposure, abiotic stressors and bacterial infection. Circumstances that deleteriously impact intestinal barrier integrity can induce endotoxemia, and controlled experiments have identified negative impacts of lipopolysaccharide (LPS; an endotoxin mimetic) on folliculogenesis, puberty onset, estrus behavior, ovulation, meiotic competence, luteal function and ovarian steroidogenesis. In addition, neonatal LPS exposures have transgenerational female reproductive impacts, raising concern about early life contacts to this endogenous reproductive toxicant. Aims of this review are to identify physiological stressors causing endotoxemia, to highlight potential mechanism(s) by which LPS compromises female reproduction and identify knowledge gaps regarding how acute and/or metabolic endotoxemia influence(s) female reproduction.

Modulatory Mechanism of Polyphenols and Nrf2 Signaling Pathway in LPS Challenged Pregnancy Disorders

Early embryonic loss and adverse birth outcomes are the major reproductive disorders that affect both human and animals. The LPS induces inflammation by interacting with robust cellular mechanism which was considered as a plethora of numerous reproductive disorders such as fetal resorption, preterm birth, teratogenicity, intrauterine growth restriction, abortion, neural tube defects, fetal demise, and skeletal development retardation. LPS-triggered overproduction of free radicals leads to oxidative stress which mediates inflammation via stimulation of NF-κB and PPARγ transcription factors. Flavonoids, which exist in copious amounts in nature, possess a wide array of functions; their supplementation during pregnancy activates Nrf2 signaling pathway which encounters pregnancy disorders. It was further presumed that the development of strong antioxidant uterine environment during gestation can alleviate diseases which appear at adult stages. The purpose of this review is to focus on modulatory properties of flavonoids on oxidative stress-mediated pregnancy insult and abnormal outcomes and role of Nrf2 activation in pregnancy disorders. These findings would be helpful for providing new insights in ameliorating oxidative stress-induced pregnancy disorders.

Baicalin promotes embryo adhesion and implantation by upregulating fucosyltransferase IV (FUT4) via Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway

Glycosylation plays a significant role in determining the receptivity of the uterine endometrium to embryo. Fucosyltransferase IV (FUT4) is expressed stage-specifically in the uterine endometrium of mammalians, and considered as a marker of the endometrial receptivity. Baicalin, a monomer of flavonoids, is known to have functions in improving reproduction. However, the mechanism by which baicalin regulates the expression of FUT4 in embryo-endometrium adhesion remains unclear. Our results showed that baicalin significantly increased FUT4 mRNA and protein expression levels both in human endometrial cells and mouse endometrial tissue, and consistently elevated embryo adhesion rate during implantation in vitro and embryonic implantation competence in pregnant mouse. This study suggests that baicalin facilitates endometrial reproduction via elevating FUT4 expression through Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Treatment of refractory obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome: the state of the art and new trends in the therapeutic management

Objective

To date, there are no reliable data regarding the actual treatment received by women with refractory obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome (OAPS). The aim of this study was to assess current clinical evidence and new trends in the treatment of refractory OAPS.

Methods

A non-systematic but comprehensive literature search using relevant keywords was made to identify relevant articles published in English from different computerized databases: PubMed (Medline), Google Scholar electronic database search and The Cochrane Library, from January 2000 to March 2012. Studies on the treatment of poor obstetric outcomes in women with OAPS were included. Prospective randomized clinical trials, cohort studies, reviews, systematic reviews and meta-analysis were retrieved.

Results

A total of 130 articles were finally selected for this review, including 17 randomized clinical trials and four meta-analyses. The majority of articles were non-randomized original papers and basic and clinical reviews.

Conclusion

Up to 20% of women with OAPS do not receive the currently recommended therapeutic regimen. Unfortunately, well-designed studies regarding the usefulness of new drugs in refractory OAPS are scarce. Hydroxychloroquine and low-dose prednisolone appear to be useful when added to standard therapy. Current data do not support the use of intravenous immunoglobulins in this field. The role played by double anti-aggregant therapy, fondaparinux, vitamin D, pentoxifylline and TNF-targeted therapies should be tested in well-designed studies.

Protective Effects of Baicalin against Bromocriptine Induced Abortion in Mice

The Chinese herbal medicine Huang Qin (Radix Scutellariae) had been used for restless fetus for hundreds of years in China, however, little attention had been given to the components of the herb, specifically its ability to exert abortion-preventing effects at the maternal fatal interface. The present study was carried out to investigate the protective effects of baicalin and the possible mechanisms on pregnancies. Baicalin (at 10, 20, and 50 mg/kg BW respectively) was gavaged to bromocriptine-treated mice from gestation day (GD) 1 through GD 7. Abortion rates were calculated and the changes of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and progesterone were assayed on different gestation days. Results showed that the embryonic death rates were significantly decreased in groups supplemented with 20 or 50 mg/kg BW of baicalin, accompanied with reduced IFN-γ and enhanced progesterone contents. Moreover, the highest levels of IFN-γ appeared on GD 5 both in the control and in baicalin treated groups. It is concluded that baicalin can exert an anti-abortive effect by cutting down the production of IFN-γ and elevating the levels of progesterone in a dose dependent manner and IFN-γ is involved in an inflammatory reaction which is beneficial for a successful implantation.

Sairei-to therapy on alloimmune recurrent spontaneous abortions and alloimmune-, autoimmune complicated recurrent spontaneous abortions

Alloimmune recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) cases that could not be treated with lymphocyte transfusion due to medical and social reasons were treated with Sairei-to therapy as an emergency measure and all four cases resulted in live births. This may show that Sairei-to treatment is effective in preventing alloimmune RSA. The efficacy of Sojyutsu-Sairei-to and Byakujyutsu-Sairei-to on autoimmune RSA has already been proven. When they were used in the treatment of alloimmune-, autoimmune complicated RSA, the abortion prevention rates were 65.4% and 82.3% respectively. These results indicate that Sairei-to is effective in the treatment of alloimmune RSA and alloimmune-, autoimmune complicated RSA.

Quercetin and Bornyl Acetate Regulate T-Lymphocyte Subsets and INF-γ/IL-4 Ratio In Utero in Pregnant Mice

The objective of this study is to investigate the antiabortive effects of Quercetin and Bornvl Acetate and their immunological modulation at maternal-fetal interface. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was injected via tail vein to induce abortion in mice which received Quercetin and Bornvl Acetate at days 4-7 of gestation. Uterine CD4+/CD8+ T lymphocytes and IFN-γ/IL-4 of each group (n = 10) were detected by immunohistochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. The ratio of CD4+/CD8+ increased significantly (P < .01) in the uterus of LPS-induced abortion mice. In the Quercetin and Bornvl Acetate pretreated mice followed by LPS administration, the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ dropped to 0.562 ± 0.021, lower than that of LPS-abortion group (P < .01). The mean value of IFN-γ/IL-4 in LPS-treated mice was 0.310 ± 0.066, higher than that of Quercetin and Bornyl Acetate group. The results indicate that Quercetin and Bornyl Acetate have an antiabortive effect through modulation of immunological balance at maternal-fetal interface.

Effects of toosendanin on pregnancy and uterine immunity alterations in mice

This study was conducted to explore the abortifacient effect and the mechanisms of the Chinese herbal medicine component toosendanin, and to elucidate the significance of the Th1 cytokines IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha, CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes in the occurrence of abortion. Graded doses of toosendanin were given by intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) to mice at day 5, 6, 7 of gestation. The levels of Th1 cytokines (IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha) in serum and uterine tissues from mice sacrificed at day 8 were analyzed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Presence of T lymphocytes in endometrium was detected by immunohistochemistry. The results revealed that injection of toosendanin could produce a dose-dependent toxicity. The IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha content in serum and uterine tissues were increased significantly. The CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes were also increased in the endometrium of toosendanin treated groups. In conclusion, toosendanin is pregnancy-toxic to animals and it is relevant to the increased contents of IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and CD4+, CD8+ T lymphocytes.