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Incomplete activation of peripheral blood dendritic cells during healthy human pregnancy.
- Source :
-
Clinical and experimental immunology [Clin Exp Immunol] 2011 May; Vol. 164 (2), pp. 180-92. Date of Electronic Publication: 2011 Feb 24. - Publication Year :
- 2011
-
Abstract
- Successful pregnancy relies on the adaptation of immune responses that allow the fetus to grow and develop in the uterus despite being recognized by maternal immune cells. Dendritic cells (DCs) are central to the control of immune tolerance, and their state of activation at the maternal-decidual interface is critical to the feto-maternal immunological equilibrium. So far, the involvement of circulating DCs has been investigated poorly. Therefore, in this study we investigated whether, during healthy human pregnancy, peripheral blood DCs (PBDCs) undergo changes that may be relevant to the adaptation of maternal immune responses that allow fetal tolerance. In a cross-sectional study, we analysed PBDCs by six-colour flow cytometry on whole blood samples from 47 women during healthy pregnancy progression and 24 non-pregnant controls. We demonstrated that both myeloid and plasmacytoid PBDCs undergo a state of incomplete activation, more evident in the third trimester, characterized by increased expression of co-stimulatory molecules and cytokine production but lacking human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-DR up-regulation. To investigate the contribution of soluble circulating factors to this phenomenon, we also performed culture experiments showing that sera from pregnant women added to control DCs conditioned a similar incomplete activation that was associated with reduced DC allostimulatory capacity, supporting the in vivo relevance of our findings. We also obtained evidence that the glycoprotein hormone activin-A may contribute to DC incomplete activation. We suggest that the changes of PBDCs occurring during late pregnancy may aid the comprehension of the immune mechanisms operated by the maternal immune system to maintain fetal tolerance.<br /> (© 2011 The Authors; Clinical and Experimental Immunology © 2011 British Society for Immunology.)
- Subjects :
- Activins pharmacology
Activins physiology
Adult
Antigen Presentation
Cells, Cultured drug effects
Cells, Cultured immunology
Cytokines biosynthesis
Cytokines classification
Cytokines genetics
Dendritic Cells metabolism
Female
Flow Cytometry
HLA-DR Antigens biosynthesis
HLA-DR Antigens genetics
Humans
Immune Tolerance immunology
Inflammation
Leukocytes, Mononuclear drug effects
Leukocytes, Mononuclear immunology
Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed
Maternal-Fetal Exchange
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Trimester, Third
Recombinant Proteins pharmacology
Up-Regulation
Young Adult
Dendritic Cells immunology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1365-2249
- Volume :
- 164
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Clinical and experimental immunology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 21352205
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2249.2011.04330.x