| First Author | Zhou M | Year | 1998 |
| Journal | J Reprod Immunol | Volume | 40 |
| Issue | 1 | Pages | 47-62 |
| PubMed ID | 9862256 | Mgi Jnum | J:130710 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3772147 | Doi | 10.1016/s0165-0378(98)00030-8 |
| Citation | Zhou M, et al. (1998) Expanded cohorts of maternal CD8+ T-cells specific for paternal MHC class I accumulate during pregnancy. J Reprod Immunol 40(1):47-62 |
| abstractText | A recombinant H-2Kb transgene, GK, containing the human HLA-G gene promoter is expressed throughout the trophoblast when inherited paternally. Male GK transgenic mice were mated with female T-cell receptor (TCR) transgenic mice to assess the effect of fetal H-2Kb expression on maternal H-2Kb-specific CD8+ T-cells during pregnancy. The number of maternal H-2Kb-specific CD8+ T-cells in spleen increased significantly (approximately 3-fold) 10 days post coitus when the GK transgene was inherited from the father. A smaller (approximately 2-fold) increase was observed in the spleen of pregnant females mated with C57BL/10 (H-2b) males. No increase was observed in mothers mated to syngeneic male mice. In both cases where expanded cohorts of maternal CD8+ T-cells were observed the amount of surface CD8 and to a lesser extent, TCR molecules was reduced. No change in the amount of surface CD44 or CD45RB was detected when levels were compared with naive T-cells from control virgin female mice. Expanded cohorts of CD8+ T-cells were also detected in para-aortic and inguinal lymph nodes draining the uterus but no changes were observed in mesenteric lymph nodes. This study concludes that maternal CD8+ T-cells are exposed to paternally inherited fetal MHC class I antigens during pregnancy. Moreover, the phenotype of the CD8+ T-cells in maternal spleen and lymph nodes that drain the uterus is not typical of activated, antigen-experienced T-cells suggesting that contact with fetal H-2Kb molecules induces a state of functional unresponsiveness. |
