A Lesson in Tolerance — Maternal Instruction to Fetal Cells William J

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

A Lesson in Tolerance — Maternal Instruction to Fetal Cells William J The new england journal of medicine clinical implications of basic research A Lesson in Tolerance — Maternal Instruction to Fetal Cells William J. Burlingham, Ph.D. Most people would agree that mothers are influ- fetal thymus and head toward peripheral lymph ential in shaping their children’s outlook on life. nodes (Fig. 1). The newly arising T cells encoun- A recent study by Mold and colleagues1 discloses ter maternal cells that are most likely to be the a new facet of maternal influence: maternal im- progeny of pluripotent stem cells that have crossed mune cells “teach” those of the fetus how to bal- the placental barrier and managed to avoid elimi- ance the need for self-defense on the one hand nation by fetal natural killer cells. Since a high and the requirement for immunologic tolerance proportion of cells in a mature T-cell repertoire on the other. Balance is critical. Too much re- are capable of recognizing foreign HLA antigens, straint of immunity could lead to a lethal infec- many T cells will detect the maternal cells as tion in the newborn; too little could lead to auto- well as soluble HLA antigen encoded by nonin- immunity. herited HLA alleles and undergo activation. Acti- The study by Mold et al. offers a rare glimpse vated T cells make interleukin-2 and express the into the development of the human adaptive im- high-affinity interleukin-2 receptor, and so they mune system, and it suggests that the balance is will proliferate and differentiate into effector markedly shifted, in utero, toward tolerance by T cells. The latter could easily wipe out cells bear- means of the preferential induction of lympho- ing unfamiliar HLA and non-HLA antigens, as cytes known as regulatory T cells. The investi- happens routinely in adults who have received gators compared leukocytes from the lymphoid transfusions or transplants. tissues of fetuses of 20 weeks’ gestation with However, the authors found that the fetal leukocytes from umbilical-cord blood, the thy- lymph node did not cultivate strong immune re- muses of infants, and the lymph nodes and pe- sponses to antigens; rather, it behaved more like ripheral blood of adults. They observed no bias an immune-privileged site,2 where the regulation in regulatory T cells in the fetal thymus. Just as of immunity allowing maternal T cells to sur- in the thymuses of infants and adults, only a vive, rather than antigen-specific sensitization, small number of CD4 T cells (5 to 10%) were was favored. The fetal lymph node produced an regulatory, as indicated by expression of the abundance of transforming growth factor β regulatory T-cell marker, the forkhead box P3 (TGF-β). TGF-β, in combination with antigens (FOXP3) protein (a nuclear transcription factor). and interleukin-2, stimulates FOXP3 expression In contrast, they observed a bias toward regula- and induction of regulatory T cells that are spe- tory T cells that was as high as 20 to 25% in the cific to maternal antigens. These suppressive cells, fetal lymph nodes and spleen, where mature which might recognize a noninherited maternal T cells go to encounter antigens. This bias dis- peptide presented by the inherited HLA class II appeared at birth and was not observed in adult molecule, blocked the proliferation of effector lymph nodes. Maternally derived cells benefited T cells and spared the remaining maternal cells from this transient immune deviation; this find- from destruction. The result was maternal micro- ing has potentially far-reaching consequences for chimerism (up to 0.8% of maternal cells) in the human health and disease. fetus that was about 10 times greater than that Whence comes this remarkable pro-tolerance previously reported in adults. bias in the adaptive immune system of the fetus? Shortly after birth, the lymph node is no long- Fully competent T cells emerge from the human er such a hospitable environment for maternal n engl j med 360;13 nejm.org march 26, 2009 1355 Downloaded from www.nejm.org by ROBERT M. FINE MD on March 29, 2009 . Copyright © 2009 Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved. The new england journal of medicine Mature cell Placenta Fetal cell Noninherited Inherited HLA antigen maternal HLA antigen T cell Fetal thymus Pluripotent stem cell from mother Activation Mature maternal cells eliminated Proliferation Interleukin-2 and differentiation TGF-β T cell Effector T cell Fetal lymph Maternal node peptide FOXP3 FOXP3 Maternal cells persist Regulatory T cell Figure 1. Immunity and the Maternal−Fetal Axis. Mold and colleagues1 recently described a mechanism through which fetal tolerance of maternal antigens is initiated. NoninheritedCOLOR FIGURE HLA antigens (orange) and inherited maternal HLA antigens (blue) are shown. Noninherited maternal HLA antigens includeDraft 8 intact HLA3/10/09 rec- ognized by fetal effector T cells and maternal peptides recognized by the FOXP3-positive regulatory T cells. TheAuthor differentBurlingham results of effec- Fig # 1 tor T cells versus regulatory T-cell pathways with respect to the persistence of mature maternal cells (microchimerism)Title Theare pathway indicated. to tolerance ME DE Phimister Artist Knoper AUTHOR PLEASE NOTE: Figure has been redrawn and type has been reset Please check carefully Issue date 3/26/09 1356 n engl j med 360;13 nejm.org march 26, 2009 Downloaded from www.nejm.org by ROBERT M. FINE MD on March 29, 2009 . Copyright © 2009 Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved. clinical implications of basic research cells. Nonetheless, Mold et al. found evidence of mentally induced regulatory T cells; this idea is a lingering regulatory T-cell effect in some, but strongly supported by a recent study in mice.5 Ma- not all, healthy young adult offspring in a given ternally induced regulatory T cells may also part- family. Some FOXP3-positive regulatory T cells ly explain the reduced incidence of the formation induced in the fetus may survive as long-lived of potentially harmful antibodies in patients who memory T cells in the adult, as the authors sug- have been exposed to noninherited maternal anti- gest. Alternatively, the generation of new regu- gens through pregnancy, blood transfusions, or latory T cells may require additional antigen input transplantation; however, independent effects of from breast-feeding, ongoing maternal microchi- maternal microchimerism on B cells may also merism, or both to sustain tolerance. have a role. The expansion of antigen-specific regulatory There is still much more to be learned about T cells, both ex vivo and in vivo, is being devel- tolerogenic versus immunogenic forms of micro- oped as a clinical strategy to promote tolerance chimerism, both of which have been reported, and and thus to reduce or eliminate entirely the bur- the possibility that autoimmunity may result if den of immunosuppressive drugs on recipients of maternal antigen–specific, TGF-β–producing reg- organ transplants. The findings of Mold et al. sug- ulatory T cells become Th-17 effectors in the pres- gest that antigen-specific regulatory T cells and ence of interleukin-6. For the time being, how- microchimerism are probably complementary. ever, what a marvel are mothers and the pathway Regulatory T-cell expansion could be combined toward tolerance they map out for us before we with stem-cell transplantation to maximize the are born. induction and maintenance of tolerance. It will be No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was re- important to determine precisely what type of ma- ported. ternal stem cell generates microchimerism and From the Department of Surgery, Division of Transplantation, tolerance in the fetus. Currently, strategies to min- University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison. imize the side effects of immunosuppressive drugs in renal transplantation (such as corticosteroid or 1. Mold JE, Michaëlsson J, Burt TD, et al. Maternal alloantigens promote the development of tolerogenic fetal regulatory T cells cyclosporine withdrawal) are applied indiscrimi- in utero. Science 2008;322:1562-5. nately, with a significant risk of acute or chronic 2. Streilein JW. Ocular immune privilege: therapeutic opportu- rejection of the graft. Perhaps patients, particularly nities from an experiment of nature. Nat Rev Immunol 2003;3: 879-89. those with living related donors, could be evalu- 3. Burlingham WJ, Grailer AP, Heisey DM, et al. The effect of ated before transplantation to identify levels of tolerance to noninherited maternal HLA antigens on the survival microchimerism and associated regulatory T-cell of renal transplants from sibling donors. N Engl J Med 1998; 339:1657-64. activity, before they are enrolled in such a trial. 4. van Rood JJ, Loberiza FR Jr, Zhang MJ, et al. Effect of toler- Choosing donors with at least one HLA-DR and ance to noninherited maternal antigens on the occurrence of HLA-DQ match and appropriate maternal-antigen graft-versus-host disease after bone marrow transplantation from a parent or an HLA-haploidentical sibling. Blood 2002;99: mismatches could also be of value. 1572-7. The high success rate of clinical living-related 5. Molitor-Dart ML, Andrassy J, Kwun J, et al. Developmental organ and hematopoietic stem-cell transplanta- exposure to noninherited maternal antigens induces CD4+ T regulatory cells: relevance to mechanism of heart allograft tions when the donor or recipient expresses anti- tolerance. J Immunol 2007;179:6749-61. 3,4 gens that were not inherited from the mother Copyright © 2009 Massachusetts Medical Society. can now be explained by the influence of develop- n engl j med 360;13 nejm.org march 26, 2009 1357 Downloaded from www.nejm.org by ROBERT M. FINE MD on March 29, 2009 . Copyright © 2009 Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved. .
Recommended publications
  • Maternal Microchimerism in Healthy Adults in Lymphocytes, Monocyte/Macrophages and NK Cells
    Laboratory Investigation (2006) 86, 1185–1192 & 2006 USCAP, Inc All rights reserved 0023-6837/06 $30.00 www.laboratoryinvestigation.org Maternal microchimerism in healthy adults in lymphocytes, monocyte/macrophages and NK cells Laurence S Loubie`re1, Nathalie C Lambert1,*, Laura J Flinn2, Timothy D Erickson1, Zhen Yan1, Katherine A Guthrie1, Kathy T Vickers1 and J Lee Nelson1,3 1Human Immunogenetics, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA; 2Medical Genetics Department, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA and 3Division of Rheumatology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA During pregnancy some maternal cells reach the fetal circulation. Microchimerism (Mc) refers to low levels of genetically disparate cells or DNA. Maternal Mc has recently been found in the peripheral blood of healthy adults. We asked whether healthy women have maternal Mc in T and B lymphocytes, monocyte/macrophages and NK cells and, if so, at what levels. Cellular subsets were isolated after fluorescence activated cell sorting. A panel of HLA-specific real-time quantitative PCR assays was employed targeting maternal-specific HLA sequences. Maternal Mc was expressed as the genome equivalent (gEq) number of microchimeric cells per 100 000 proband cells. Thirty-one healthy adult women probands were studied. Overall 39% (12/31) of probands had maternal Mc in at least one cellular subset. Maternal Mc was found in T lymphocytes in 25% (7/28) and B lymphocytes in 14% (3/21) of probands. Maternal Mc levels ranged from 0.9 to 25.6 and 0.9 to 25.3 gEq/100 000 in T and B lymphocytes, respectively. Monocyte/macrophages had maternal Mc in 16% (4/25) and NK cells in 28% (5/18) of probands with levels from 0.3 to 36 and 1.8 to 3.2 gEq/100 000, respectively.
    [Show full text]
  • Transfusion-Associated Graft-Versus-Host Disease
    Vox Sanguinis (2008) 95, 85–93 © 2008 The Author(s) REVIEW Journal compilation © 2008 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. DOI: 10.1111/j.1423-0410.2008.01073.x Transfusion-associatedBlackwell Publishing Ltd graft-versus-host disease D. M. Dwyre & P. V. Holland Department of Pathology, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA, USA Transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease (TA-GvHD) is a rare complication of transfusion of cellular blood components producing a graft-versus-host clinical picture with concomitant bone marrow aplasia. The disease is fulminant and rapidly fatal in the majority of patients. TA-GvHD is caused by transfused blood-derived, alloreactive T lymphocytes that attack host tissue, including bone marrow with resultant bone marrow failure. Human leucocyte antigen similarity between the trans- fused lymphocytes and the host, often in conjunction with host immunosuppression, allows tolerance of the grafted lymphocytes to survive the host immunological response. Any blood component containing viable T lymphocytes can cause TA-GvHD, with fresher components more likely to have intact cells and, thus, able to cause disease. Treatment is generally not helpful, while prevention, usually via irradiation of blood Received: 13 December 2007, components given to susceptible recipients, is the key to obviating TA-GvHD. Newer revised 18 May 2008, accepted 21 May 2008, methods, such as pathogen inactivation, may play an important role in the future. published online 9 June 2008 Key words: graft-versus-host, immunosuppression, irradiation, transfusion. along with findings due to marked bone marrow aplasia. Introduction Because of the bone marrow failure, the prognosis of TA- Transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease (TA-GvHD) GvHD is dismal.
    [Show full text]
  • Graft Rejection and Hyperacute Graft-Versus-Host Disease in Stem
    European Journal of Haematology ISSN 0902-4441 CASE REPORT Graft rejection and hyperacute graft-versus-host disease in stem cell transplantation from non-inherited maternal antigen complementary HLA-mismatched siblings Hirokazu Okumura1, Masaki Yamaguchi2, Takeharu Kotani2, Naomi Sugimori1, Chiharu Sugimori1, Jun Ozaki1, Yukio Kondo1, Hirohito Yamazaki1, Tatsuya Chuhjo3, Akiyoshi Takami1, Mikio Ueda3, Shigeki Ohtake4, Shinji Nakao1 1Department of Cellular Transplantation Biology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science; 2Department of Internal Medicine, Ishikawa Prefectural Central Hospital; 3Department of Internal Medicine, NTT West Japan Kanazawa Hospital; 4Department of Laboratory Science, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa, Japan Abstract Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-mismatched stem cell transplantation from non-inherited maternal antigen (NIMA)-complementary donors is known to produce stable engraftment without inducing severe graft-ver- sus-host disease (GVHD). We treated two patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and one patient with severe aplastic anemia (SAA) with HLA-mismatched stem cell transplantation (SCT) from NIMA-com- plementary donors (NIMA-mismatched SCT). The presence of donor and recipient-derived blood cells in the peripheral blood of recipient (donor microchimerism) and donor was documented respectively by ampli- fying NIMA-derived DNA in two of the three patients. Graft rejection occurred in the SAA patient who was conditioned with a fludarabine-based regimen. Grade III and grade IV acute GVHD developed in patients with AML on day 8 and day 11 respectively, and became a direct cause of death in one patient. The find- ings suggest that intensive conditioning and immunosuppression after stem cell transplantation are needed in NIMA-mismatched SCT even if donor and recipient microchimerisms is detectable in the donor and recipient before SCT.
    [Show full text]
  • A Research Study of the Association Between Maternal Microchimerism
    A Research Study of the Association between Maternal Microchimerism and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Adults: A Comparison between Patients and Healthy Controls Based on Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism Using Quantitative Real-Time PCR Anna Maria Jonsson Kanold1*, Elisabet Svenungsson2, Iva Gunnarsson2, Cecilia Götherström1,3, Leonid Padyukov2, Nikos Papadogiannakis4, Mehmet Uzunel3, Magnus Westgren1 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Fetal Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, 2 Department of Medicine Solna, Rheumatology Unit, Karolinska University Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, 3 Division for Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, 4 Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of PathologySection of Perinatal Pathology, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden Abstract Background: Naturally acquired microchimerism may arise in the mother and her child during pregnancy when bidirectional trafficking of cells occurs through the placental barrier. The occurrence of maternal microchimerism (maternal cells in the offspring) has been associated with several autoimmune diseases, especially in children. Systemic Lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder with a resemblance to graft-versus-host disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between maternal microchimerism in the blood and SLE.
    [Show full text]
  • Correlations of Y Chromosome Microchimerism with Disease
    651 EXTENDED REPORT Ann Rheum Dis: first published as 10.1136/ard.62.7.651 on 1 July 2003. Downloaded from Correlations of Y chromosome microchimerism with disease activity in patients with SLE: analysis of preliminary data M Mosca, M Curcio, S Lapi, G Valentini, S D’Angelo, G Rizzo, S Bombardieri ............................................................................................................................. Ann Rheum Dis 2003;62:651–654 Background: Recently it has been suggested that microchimerism may have a significant role in the aetiopathogenesis of some autoimmune diseases. Objectives: To evaluate the incidence of microchimerism in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), to quantify the phenomenon, to evaluate changes of microchimerism during follow up, and to correlate these data with clinical and laboratory variables. Methods: Patients were selected for the study on the basis of the following criteria: (a) pregnancy with at least one male offspring; (b) no history of abortion and blood transfusion. Microchimerism was detected using a competitive nested polymerase chain reaction for a specific Y chromosome sequence See end of article for and an internal competitor designed ad hoc. Disease activity and organ involvement were also evalu- authors’ affiliations ated. ....................... Results: Sixty samples from 22 patients with SLE and 24 healthy controls were examined. Microchi- Correspondence to: merism was seen in 11 (50%) patients and 12 (50%) controls. The mean number of male equivalent Dr M Mosca, Department cells was 2.4 cells/100 000 (range 0.1–17) in patients with SLE and 2.5 (range 0.2–1.8) in healthy of Internal Medicine, controls. No differences in the incidence of microchimerism or in the number of microchimeric cells Rheumatology Unit, University of Pisa, Via were found between patients and healthy controls.
    [Show full text]
  • Microchimerism and Skin Disease: True-True Unrelated?
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Elsevier - Publisher Connector See related article on pg 345 COMMENTARY cells that can form cells of all lineages: Microchimerism and Skin Disease: ectodermal, mesenchymal and endo- dermal (Grove et al., 2004). True-True Unrelated? Many studies support the concept of Anita C. Gilliam1 transdifferentiation — the reprogram- ming of stem cells to differentiate into Microchimerism, the stable presence of foreign cells in an individual, may result multiple different cell types appropri- from trafficking during pregnancy or from organ or hematopoietic transplan- ate to their local environments (Alonso tation, and has been hypothesized to cause autoimmunity and certain skin and Fuchs, 2003). Thus the mater- diseases. Yet microchimeric cells are found in normal individuals and may be nal–fetal exchange via the placenta, important to tissue repair. Thus microchimerism may be common, and find- coupled with the enormous potential ing microchimeric cells in diseased as well as normal tissue may be a “true-true of stem cells to produce a variety of unrelated” situation. cell types, might produce a microchi- Journal of Investigative Dermatology (2006) 126, 239–241. doi:10.1038/sj.jid.5700061 merism of not only hematopoietic cells but also cells of all possible lineages, including skin cells. Microchimerism and Cell Trafficking ferentiated cells such as fetal nucleated During Pregnancy erythrocytes or placental trophoblasts Microchimerism and Transplantation The word ‘chimera’ comes from a in maternal blood are a useful marker The study of microchimerism in trans- mythological animal that is a com- of placental health.
    [Show full text]
  • Experimental Evidence on the Immunopathogenesis of Primary Biliary Cirrhosis
    Cellular & Molecular Immunology (2010) 7, 1–10 ß 2010 CSI and USTC. All rights reserved 1672-7681/10 $32.00 www.nature.com/cmi REVIEW Experimental evidence on the immunopathogenesis of primary biliary cirrhosis Carlo Selmi1,2,3,FrancescaMeda1,2,AnaidKasangian2, Pietro Invernizzi2,ZhigangTian4,ZhexiongLian4, Mauro Podda1,2 and M Eric Gershwin3 Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease for which an autoimmune pathogenesis is supported by clinical and experimental data, including the presence of autoantibodies and autoreactive T cells. The etiology remains to be determined, yet data suggest that both a susceptible genetic background and unknown environmental factors determine disease onset. Multiple infectious and chemical candidates have been proposed to trigger the disease in a genetically susceptible host, mostly by molecular mimicry. Most recently, several murine models have been reported, including genetically determined models as well as models induced by immunization with xenobiotics and bacteria. Cellular & Molecular Immunology (2010) 7, 1–10; doi:10.1038/cmi.2009.104; published online 23 December 2009 INTRODUCTION A probable diagnosis is made when two of three criteria are Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease of present. unknown etiology characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruc- The most common symptoms include fatigue, which is present in tion of small- and medium-sized intrahepatic bile ducts.1 about 19% of patients at diagnosis, pruritus in about 20% of patients
    [Show full text]
  • The Effects of Fetal Microchimerism on Maternal Health
    The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences Volume 14 Number 1 Fall 2020 67-72 2020 The Effects of Fetal Microchimerism on Maternal Health Matti Miller Touro College Follow this and additional works at: https://touroscholar.touro.edu/sjlcas Part of the Biology Commons, and the Pharmacology, Toxicology and Environmental Health Commons Recommended Citation Miller, M. (2020). The Effects of Fetal Microchimerism on Maternal Health. The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences, 14(1), 67-72. Retrieved from https://touroscholar.touro.edu/sjlcas/ vol14/iss1/8 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Lander College of Arts and Sciences at Touro Scholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences by an authorized editor of Touro Scholar. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Effects of Fetal Microchimerism on Maternal Health Matti Miller Matti Miller will graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in September 2020. Abstract Maternal-fetal cellular trafficking is the bidirectional passage of cells between the fetus and mother during pregnancy. The presence of fetal cells in maternal circulation, brain, and muscles is known as fetal microchimerism . During pregnancy, fetal cells can be obtained from the mother’s blood for prenatal diagnosis of the fetus. Furthermore, it has been confirmed that fetal microchimerism persists decades later in women who have been pregnant . Investigation of the long-term consequences of fetal microchimerism is a frontier of active study, with preliminary results pointing to both beneficial and adverse effects.
    [Show full text]
  • CD34‏ Cells in Maternal Placental Blood Are Mainly Fetal in Origin And
    Laboratory Investigation (2009) 89, 915–923 & 2009 USCAP, Inc All rights reserved 0023-6837/09 $32.00 CD34 þ cells in maternal placental blood are mainly fetal in origin and express endothelial markers Olivier Parant1,2, Gil Dubernard1,2, Jean-Claude Challier1,2, Miche`le Oster1,2, Serge Uzan1,2,Se´lim Aractingi1,2 and Kiarash Khosrotehrani1,2 Fetal CD34 þ cells enter the maternal circulation during pregnancy and may persist for decades. These cells are usually depicted as hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. Our objective was to further determine the phenotype of fetal chimeric CD34 þ cells in placental maternal blood from the intervillous space (IVS). Human healthy term placentas were analyzed (n ¼ 9). All fetuses were male. CD34 þ cells were identified in the IVS and further characterized as fetal or maternal using X and Y chromosome fluorescence in situ hybridization. The phenotype of fetal cells was further analyzed using anti-CD117 (c-kit), anti-CD133, anti-CD31, anti-von Willebrand factor (vWF), anti-vimentin, anti-CD45 and anti- cytokeratin (CK) antibodies. We used preeclamptic placentas of male (n ¼ 3) and healthy placentas of female fetuses (n ¼ 3) as controls. As expected fetal cells were easily identified in the IVS and significantly increased in cases of preeclampsia. Most CD34 þ cells in the IVS were of fetal origin (90%) and were not surrounded by CK staining further showing that they were not in fetal trophoblastic villi. Similarly, about 40% of CD31 þ and 6% of vimentin þ cells in the IVS were fetal in origin. No CD117 þ or CD133 þ fetal cells were found in the IVS of examined placentas.
    [Show full text]
  • Regulatory T Cells in Human Pregnancy
    Linköping University Medical Dissertations No. 1163 Regulatory T cells in human pregnancy Jenny Mjösberg M.Sc. Biomedicine Division of Clinical Immunology and Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, SE‐581 85 Linköping Linköping 2010 © Jenny Mjösberg, 2009 Cover illustration by Stig‐Ove Larsson, edited by Tomas Thyr, 2009 Published articles have been reprinted with the permission of the copyright holders Paper I. © 2007. Wiley‐Blackwell. Paper II. © 2009. The American Association of Immunologists, Inc. ISBN 978‐91‐7393‐460‐2 ISSN 0345‐0082 Printed by LiU‐tryck, Linköping, Sweden, 2009 To me, myself and I Abstract During pregnancy, fetal tolerance has to be achieved without compromising the immune integrity of the mother. CD4+CD25highFoxp3+ regulatory cells (Tregs) have received vast attention as key players in immune regulation. However, the identification of human Tregs is complicated by their similarity to activated non- suppressive T cells. The general aim of this thesis was to determine the antigen specificity, frequency, phenotype and function of Tregs in first to second trimester healthy and severe early-onset preeclamptic human pregnancy. Regarding antigen specificity, we observed that in healthy pregnant women, Tregs suppressed both TH1 and TH2 reactions when stimulated with paternal alloantigens but only TH1, not TH2 reactions when stimulated with unrelated alloantigens. Hence, circulating paternal-specific Tregs seem to be present during pregnancy. Further, by strictly defining typical Tregs (CD4dimCD25high) using flow cytometry, we could show that as a whole, the Treg population was reduced already during first trimester pregnancy as compared with non-pregnant women.
    [Show full text]
  • Fetal Microchimerism and Maternal Health: a Review and Evolutionary Analysis of Cooperation and Conflict Beyond the Womb
    UC Santa Barbara UC Santa Barbara Previously Published Works Title Fetal microchimerism and maternal health: a review and evolutionary analysis of cooperation and conflict beyond the womb. Permalink https://escholarship.org/uc/item/44x0951h Journal BioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biology, 37(10) ISSN 0265-9247 Authors Boddy, Amy M Fortunato, Angelo Wilson Sayres, Melissa et al. Publication Date 2015-10-01 DOI 10.1002/bies.201500059 Peer reviewed eScholarship.org Powered by the California Digital Library University of California Prospects & Overviews Review essays Fetal microchimerism and maternal health: A review and evolutionary analysis of cooperation and conflict beyond the womb 1)2) 2) 3)4) 1)2)3) Amy M. Boddy Ã, Angelo Fortunato , Melissa Wilson Sayres y and Athena Aktipis y The presence of fetal cells has been associated with both Keywords: positive and negative effects on maternal health. These .attachment; autoimmune disease; cancer; inflammation; paradoxical effects may be due to the fact that maternal lactation; maternal-fetal conflict; parent-offspring conflict and offspring fitness interests are aligned in certain domains and conflicting in others, which may have led to the evolution of fetal microchimeric phenotypes that can Introduction manipulate maternal tissues. We use cooperation and The function of fetal cells in maternal tissues is conflict theory to generate testable predictions about unknown domains in which fetal microchimerism may enhance maternal health and those in which it may be detrimental. Maternal-offspring interactions are often viewed as solely This framework suggests that fetal cells may function both cooperative, both parties having an interest in the other’s survival and well-being.
    [Show full text]
  • Implications in Autoimmunity Associated with HLA-DQA1*0501
    Cutting Edge: Persistent Fetal Microchimerism in T Lymphocytes Is Associated with HLA-DQA1*0501: Implications in Autoimmunity This information is current as of September 29, 2021. Nathalie C. Lambert, Paul C. Evans, Tanya L. Hashizumi, Sean Maloney, Ted Gooley, Dan E. Furst and J. Lee Nelson J Immunol 2000; 164:5545-5548; ; doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.164.11.5545 http://www.jimmunol.org/content/164/11/5545 Downloaded from References This article cites 34 articles, 5 of which you can access for free at: http://www.jimmunol.org/content/164/11/5545.full#ref-list-1 http://www.jimmunol.org/ Why The JI? Submit online. • Rapid Reviews! 30 days* from submission to initial decision • No Triage! Every submission reviewed by practicing scientists • Fast Publication! 4 weeks from acceptance to publication by guest on September 29, 2021 *average Subscription Information about subscribing to The Journal of Immunology is online at: http://jimmunol.org/subscription Permissions Submit copyright permission requests at: http://www.aai.org/About/Publications/JI/copyright.html Email Alerts Receive free email-alerts when new articles cite this article. Sign up at: http://jimmunol.org/alerts The Journal of Immunology is published twice each month by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc., 1451 Rockville Pike, Suite 650, Rockville, MD 20852 Copyright © 2000 by The American Association of Immunologists All rights reserved. Print ISSN: 0022-1767 Online ISSN: 1550-6606. ● Cutting Edge: Persistent Fetal Microchimerism in T Lymphocytes Is Associated with HLA-DQA1*0501: Implications in Autoimmunity1 Nathalie C. Lambert,2* Paul C. Evans,† Tanya L. Hashizumi,* Sean Maloney,* Ted Gooley,* Dan E.
    [Show full text]