Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

LIVE: Thursday 27th June 2024, 18:00-19:30 (CEST)
Join our expert panel to discover why you need to understand the drivers of non-adherence in your patients, and how you can optimize medication adherence in your clinics to drastically improve patient outcomes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology
Published in: Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology 1/2003

Open Access 01-12-2003 | Review

Pregnancy and gamma/delta T cells: Taking on the hard questions

Author: Lucia Mincheva-Nilsson

Published in: Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology | Issue 1/2003

Login to get access

Excerpt

Considering the allograft rejection as one of the basic features of the immune system, the mammalian pregnancy is still a puzzling situation where the semiallogeneic embryo, a mating product of non-histocompatible individuals is not rejected. How are the demands of pregnancy solved in the context of the maternal immunity? How is the competent maternal immune system modulated during pregnancy? These are hard questions to answer and an intriguing challenge for immunologists to explain. Historically, the mammalian fetus has been regarded as a successful allograft, a tumor or a parasite [1, 2]. Although the mechanisms that promote the survival of the conceptus are at large still unknown, it has become increasingly clear that the maternal immune tolerance towards the fetus is the result of the interactions of a jigsaw puzzle of actors – cells, serum proteins, hormones, cytokines, enzymes and neurotransmitters. …
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
Billingham RE: Transplantation immunity and the maternal-fetal relation. N Engl J Med. 1965, 270: 667-672.CrossRef
2.
Arck P, Dietl J, Clark D: From the decidual cell internet: trophoblast-recognizing T cells. Biol Reprod. 1999, 60: 227-233.CrossRefPubMed
3.
Ait-Azzouzene D, Gendron MC, Houdayer M, Langkopf A, Burki K, Nemazee D, Kanellopoulus-Langevin C: Maternal B lymphocytes specific for paternal histocompatibility antigens are partially deleted during pregnancy. J Immunol. 1998, 161: 2677-2683.PubMed
4.
Jiang SP, Vacchio MS: Multiple mechanisms of peripheral T cell tolerance to the fetal "allograft". J Immunol. 1998, 160: 3086-3090.PubMed
5.
Mincheva-Nilsson L: Immune cells in pregnant uterine mucosa – functional properties, cellular composition and tissue organization. Umeå University Medical Dissertations New series No 384 ISSN 0346-6612. 1993
6.
Sacks G, Sargent I, Redman C: An innate view of human pregnancy. Immunol Today. 1999, 20: 114-118. 10.1016/S0167-5699(98)01393-0.CrossRefPubMed
7.
Carding SR, Egan PJ: γδT cells: functional plasticity and heterogeneity. Nat Rev Immunol. 2002, 2: 336-345.CrossRefPubMed
8.
Bendelac A, Bonneville M, Kearney JF: Autoreactivity by design: innate B and T lymphocytes. Nature Rev Immunol. 2001, 117: 177-186. 10.1038/35105052.CrossRef
9.
Meeusen EN, Bischof RJ, Lee CS: Comparative T-cell responses during pregnancy in large animals and humans. Am J Reprod Immunol. 2001, 46: 169-179. 10.1111/j.8755-8920.2001.460208.x.CrossRefPubMed
10.
Mincheva-Nilsson L, Hammarström S, Hammarström M-L: Human decidual leukocytes from early pregnancy contain high numbers of γδ+ cells and show selective down-regulation of alloreactivity. J Immunol. 1992, 149: 2203-2211.PubMed
11.
Mincheva-Nilsson L, Baranov V, Yeung MM, Hammarström S, Hammarström M-L: Immunomorphologic studies of human decidua-associated lymphoid cells in normal early pregnancy. J Immunol. 1994, 152: 2020-2032.PubMed
12.
Sharma R, Bulmer D, Peel S: Effects of exogenous progesterone following ovariectomy on the metrial glands of pregnant mice. J Anat. 1986, 144: 189-199.PubMedCentralPubMed
13.
Mincheva-Nilsson L, Kling M, Hammarström S, Nagaeva O, Sundqvist K-G, Hammarström M-L, Baranov V: γδT cells of human early pregnancy decidua: evidence for local proliferation, phenotypic heterogeneity, and extrathymic differentiation. J Immunol. 1997, 159: 3266-3277.PubMed
14.
Parr EL, Young LH, Parr MB, Young JD: Granulated metrial gland cells of pregnant mouse uterus are natural killer cells that contain perforin and serine esterases. J Immunol. 1990, 145: 2365-2372.PubMed
15.
Saito S: Cytokine network at the feto-maternal interface. J Reprod Immunol. 2000, 47: 87-103. 10.1016/S0165-0378(00)00060-7.CrossRefPubMed
16.
Ashkar AA, DiSanto JP, Croy BA: Interferon gamma contributes to initiation of vascular modification, decidual integrity, and uterine natural killer cell maturation during normal murine pregnancy. J Exp Med. 2000, 192: 259-270. 10.1084/jem.192.2.259.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
17.
Hayakawa S, Saito S, Nemoto N, Chishima F, Akiyama K, Shiraish H, Hayakawa J, Karasaki-Suzuki M, Fujii KT, Ichijo M, Sakurai I, Satoh K: Expression of recombinase-activating genes (RAG-1 and 2) in human decidual mononuclear cells. J Immunol. 1994, 153: 4934-4939.PubMed
18.
Kimura M, Hanawa H, Watanabe H, Ogawa M, Abo T: Synchronous expansion of intermediate TCR cells in the liver and uterus during pregnancy. Cell Immunol. 1995, 162: 16-25. 10.1006/cimm.1995.1046.CrossRefPubMed
19.
Chaplin DD: Overview of the immune response. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2003, 111: S442-S459. 10.1067/mai.2003.125.CrossRefPubMed
20.
21.
Hayday A, Theodoridis E, Ramsburg E, Shires J: Intraepithelial lymphocytes: exploring the third way in immunology. Nat Immunol. 2001, 2: 997-1003. 10.1038/ni1101-997.CrossRefPubMed
22.
Rocha B, Vassalli P, Guy-Grand D: Thymic and extrathymic origins of gut intraepithelial populations in mice. J Exp Med. 1994, 180: 681-686.CrossRefPubMed
23.
Spada FM, Grant EP, Peters PJ, Sugita M, Melian A, Leslie DS, Lee HK, van Donselaar E, Hanson DA, Krensky AM: Self-recognition of CD1 by gamma/delta T cells: implication for innate immunity. J Exp Med. 2000, 191: 937-948. 10.1084/jem.191.6.937.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
24.
Groh V, Rhinehart R, Secrist H, Bauer S, Grabstein KH, Spies T: Broad tumor-associated expression and recognition by tumor-derived γδT cells of MICA and MICB. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 1999, 96: 6879-6884. 10.1073/pnas.96.12.6879.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
25.
Groh V, Steinle A, Bauer S, Spies T: Recognition of stress-induced MHC molecules by intestinal epithelial γδT cells. Science. 1998, 279: 1737-1740. 10.1126/science.279.5357.1737.CrossRefPubMed
26.
Mincheva-Nilsson L, Nagaeva O, Sundqvist KG, Hammarström ML, Hammarström S, Baranov V: γδT cells of early pregnancy decidua: evidence for cytotoxic potency. Int Immunol. 2000, 12: 585-596. 10.1093/intimm/12.5.585.CrossRefPubMed
27.
Hayday AC: γδT cells: A right time and a right place for a conserved third way of protection. Annu Rev Immunol. 2000, 18: 975-1026. 10.1146/annurev.immunol.18.1.975.CrossRefPubMed
28.
Kroka M, Tärnvik A, Sjöstedt A: The proportion of circulationg γδT cells increases after the first week of onset of tularemia and remains elevated for more than a year. Clin Exp Immunol. 2001, 120: 280-284. 10.1046/j.1365-2249.2000.01215.x.CrossRef
29.
Born W, Cady C, Jones-Carson J, Mukasa A, Lahn M, O'Brien R: Immunoregulatory functions of γδT cells. Adv Immunol. 1999, 71: 77-144.CrossRefPubMed
30.
Ferrarini M, Ferrero E, Dagna L, Poggi A, Zocchi MR: Human γδT cells: a nonredundant system in the immune-surveillance against cancer. Trends Immunol. 2002, 23: 14-18. 10.1016/S1471-4906(01)02110-X.CrossRefPubMed
31.
Billington WD: The nature and possible functions of MHC antigens on the surface of human trophoblast. In: Reproductive Immunology. Edited by: Gupta SK. 1999, Narosa Publishing house, New Delhi, India
32.
Szekeres-Bartho J, Barakonyi A, Miko E, Polgar B, Palkovics T: The role of γ/δT cells in the feto-maternal relationship. Semin Immunol. 2001, 13: 229-233. 10.1006/smim.2000.0318.CrossRefPubMed
33.
Szekeres-Bartho J, Barakonyi A, Polgar B, Par G, Faust Zs, Palkovics T, Szereday L: The role of γ/δT cells in progesteron-mediated immunomodulation during pregnancy. Am J Reprod Immunol. 1999, 42: 44-48.CrossRefPubMed
34.
Meeusen E, Fox A, Brandon M, Lee CS: Activation of uterine intraepithelial γδT cell receptor-positive lymphocytes during pregnancy. Eur J Immunol. 1993, 23: 1112-1117.CrossRefPubMed
35.
Morii T, Nishikawa K, Saito S, Enomoto M, Ito A, Kurai N, Shimoyama T, Ichijo M, Narita N: T-cell receptors are expressed but down-regulated on intradecidual T lymphocytes. Am J Reprod Immunol. 1993, 29: 1-4.CrossRefPubMed
36.
Christmas SE, Brew R, Deniz G, Taylor JJ: T cell receptor heterogeneity of γδT cell clones from human female reproductive tissues. Immunology. 1993, 78: 436-443.PubMedCentralPubMed
37.
Itohara S, Farr AG, Lafaille JJ, Bonneville M, Takagaki Y, Haas W, Tonegawa S: Homing of a gamma /delta thymocyte subset with homogeneous T-cell receptors to mucosal epithelia. Nature. 1990, 343: 754-757. 10.1038/343754a0.CrossRefPubMed
38.
Heyborne KD, Cranfill RL, Carding SR, Born WK, O'Brien RL: Characterization of γδT lymphocytes at the maternal-fetal interface. J Immunol. 1992, 149: 2872-2878.PubMed
39.
Bossi G, Griffiths GM: Degranulation plays an essential part in regulating cell surface expression of Fas ligand in T cells and natural killer cells. Nat Med. 1999, 5: 90-96. 10.1038/4779.CrossRefPubMed
40.
Spielman J, Lee RK, Podack ER: Perforin/Fas ligand double deficiency is associated with macrophage expansion and severe pancreatitis. J Immunol. 1998, 161: 7063-7070.PubMed
41.
Heyborne K, Fu Y-X, Nelson A, Farr A, O'Brien R, Born : Recognition of trophoblasts by γδT cells. J Immunol. 1994, 153: 2918-2926.PubMed
42.
Borowski C, Martin C, Gounari F, Haughn L, Aifantis I, Grassi F, von Boehmer H: On the brink of becoming a T cell. Curr Opin Immunol. 2002, 14: 200-206. 10.1016/S0952-7915(02)00322-9.CrossRefPubMed
43.
Clarke AG, Kendall MD: The thymus in pregnancy: the interplay of neural, endocrine and immune influences. Immunol Today. 1994, 15: 545-551. 10.1016/0167-5699(94)90212-7.CrossRefPubMed
44.
Boyd RL, Tucek CL, Godfrey DI, Izon DJ, Wilson TJ, Davidson NJ, Bean AG, Ladyman HM, Ritter MA, Hugo P: The thymic microenvironment. Immunol Today. 1993, 14: 445-459. 10.1016/0167-5699(93)90248-J.CrossRefPubMed
45.
Tafuri A, Alferink J, Moller P, Hammerling GJ, Arnold B: T cell awareness of paternal alloantigens during pregnancy. Science. 1995, 270: 630-633.CrossRefPubMed
46.
Raghupathy R: Pregnancy: success and failure within the Th1/Th2/Th3 paradigm. Semin Immunol. 2001, 13: 219-227. 10.1006/smim.2001.0316.CrossRefPubMed
47.
Allen JE, Maizels RM: Th1-Th2: reliable paradigm or dangerous dogma?. Immunol Today. 1997, 8: 387-392.CrossRef
48.
Groux H: An overview of regulatory T cells. Microbes Infect. 2001, 3: 883-889. 10.1016/S1286-4579(01)01448-4.CrossRefPubMed
49.
Arck PC, Ferrick DA, Steele-Norwood D, Croitoru K, Clark DA: Regulation of abortion by γδT cells. Am J Reprod Immunol. 1997, 37: 87-93.CrossRefPubMed
50.
Nagaeva O, Jonsson L, Mincheva-Nilsson L: Dominant IL-10 and TGF-β mRNA expression in γδT cells of human early pregnancy decidua suggests immunoregulatory potential. Am J Reprod Immunol. 2002, 48: 9-17. 10.1034/j.1600-0897.2002.01131.x.CrossRefPubMed
51.
Salamonsen LA, Dimitriadis E, Robb L: Cytokines in implantation. Semin Reprod Med. 2000, 18: 299-310. 10.1055/s-2000-12567.CrossRefPubMed
52.
Roncarolo MG, Levings MK: The role of different subsets of regulatory cells in controlling autoimmunity. Curr Opin Immunol. 2000, 12: 676-683. 10.1016/S0952-7915(00)00162-X.CrossRefPubMed
53.
Ymagiwa S, Gray JD, Hashimoto A, Horwitz DA: A role for TGF-β in the generation and expansion of CD4+CD25+ regulatory cells from human peripheral blood. J Immunol. 2001, 166: 7282-7289.CrossRef
54.
Groux H, Bigler M, Rouleau M, Antonenko S, de Vries JE, Roncarolo MG: A CD4+ T-cell subset inhibits antigen-specific T-cell responses and prevents colitis. Nature. 1997, 389: 737-742. 10.1038/39614.CrossRefPubMed
55.
Weiner HL: The mucosal milieu creates tolerogenic dendritic cells and Tr1 and Th3 regulatory cells. Nat Immunol. 2001, 2: 671-672. 10.1038/90604.CrossRefPubMed
56.
Hänninen A, Harrison LC: γδT cells as mediators of mucosal tolerance: the autoimmune diabetes model. Immunol Rev. 2000, 173: 109-119. 10.1034/j.1600-065X.2000.917303.x.CrossRefPubMed
57.
Gorczynski RM, Chen Z, Zeng H, Ming Fu X: Specificity for in vivo graft prolongation in γδT cell receptor+ hybridomas derived from mice given portal vein donor-specific preimmunization and skin allografts. J Immunol. 1997, 159: 3698-3706.PubMed
58.
Mukasa A, Yoshida H, Kobayashi N, Matsuzaki G, Nomoto K: γδT cells in infection-induced and autoimmune-induced testicular inflammation. Immunology. 1998, 95: 395-401. 10.1046/j.1365-2567.1998.00585.x.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
59.
Leslie DS, Vincent MS, Spada FM, Das H, Sugita M, Morita CT, Brenner BM: CD1-mediated γδT cell maturation of dendritic cells. J Exp Med. 2002, 196: 1575-1584. 10.1084/jem.20021515.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
Pregnancy and gamma/delta T cells: Taking on the hard questions
Author
Lucia Mincheva-Nilsson
Publication date
01-12-2003
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology / Issue 1/2003
Electronic ISSN: 1477-7827
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7827-1-120

Other articles of this Issue 1/2003

Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology 1/2003 Go to the issue

Research

Expression of somatostatin receptor type-2 (sst2A) in immature porcine Leydig cells and a possible role in the local control of testosterone secretion

Review

Potential involvement of the immune system in the development of endometriosis

Review

Ovarian surface epithelium: family history and early events in ovarian cancer

Review

Understanding spermatogenesis is a prerequisite for treatment

Research

Decreased serotonin level during pregnancy alters morphological and functional characteristics of tonic nociceptive system in juvenile offspring of the rat

Research

Expression of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system and steroidogenic enzymes in canine testis tumors