Regulatory T cells induce a privileged tolerant microenvironment at the fetal-maternal interface

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Abstract

The mechanisms underlying immune tolerance during pregnancy are poorly understood. In this regard, Treg seem to play an important role in mediating maternal tolerance to the fetus. We proposed a crucial role of T regulatory cells (Treg) in avoiding immunological rejection of the fetus after observing diminished number and function of Treg in abortion-prone mice. We further confirmed the protective role of Treg during pregnancy by transferring pregnancy-induced Treg into abortion-prone mice, which prevented rejection. Here, we analyzed the mechanisms involved in Treg-mediated protection. As expected, Treg therapy prevented abortion, while expanding the peripheral and thymic Treg population. Surprisingly, the decidual levels of the Th1 cytokines IFN-γ and TNF-α were not diminished after therapy. Interestingly, the mRNA levels of leukemia inhibitory factor, TGF-β and heme oxygenase-1 at the fetal-maternal interface were dramatically up-regulated after Treg transfer, while the levels of indolamine 2,3-dioxygenase remained unchanged. Our data suggest that Treg treatment can not prevent T cell infiltration or high Th1 levels but is able to create a privileged tolerant microenvironment at the fetal-maternal interface, further shedding light onto the molecular mechanisms involved in pregnancy tolerance. © 2006 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

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Zenclussen, A. C., Gerlof, K., Zenclussen, M. L., Ritschel, S., Bertoja, A. Z., Fest, S., … Volk, H. D. (2006). Regulatory T cells induce a privileged tolerant microenvironment at the fetal-maternal interface. European Journal of Immunology, 36(1), 82–94. https://doi.org/10.1002/eji.200535428

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