Abstract
Classic models suggest maternal tolerance is dependent on regulation of fetal antigen-specific T cell responses. We hypothesize that factors unique to a particular fetal antigen-specific T cell, rather than the state of pregnancy per se, are important determinants of T cell fate during pregnancy. To investigate the fate of fetal antigen-specific CD4 T cells in the systemic circulation, we examined spleen cells in a CD4 T cell receptor transgenic mouse specific for the male antigen H-Y. We observed a transient decrease in CD4(+) Vβ6(+) cell numbers and, due to transient internalization of CD4, an increase in CD4(-) Vβ6(+) T cells. Antigen-specific in vitro responsiveness was not depressed by pregnancy. These data suggest that pregnancy supports fluidity in this particular CD4 T cell pool that may, in turn, help to meet competing requirements of maternal immune responsiveness and fetal tolerance.
© 2011 The Authors. Immunology © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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CD4 Antigens / genetics
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CD4 Antigens / immunology
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CD4 Antigens / metabolism
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CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology
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CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
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CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
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Cell Proliferation
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DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
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DNA-Binding Proteins / immunology
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DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
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Female
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Flow Cytometry
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H-Y Antigen / immunology*
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Hyaluronan Receptors / immunology
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Hyaluronan Receptors / metabolism
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Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / immunology
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Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / metabolism
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Lymphocyte Count
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Male
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Maternal-Fetal Exchange / genetics
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Maternal-Fetal Exchange / immunology
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Mice, Knockout
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Mice, Transgenic
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Pregnancy
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / genetics
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / immunology*
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / metabolism
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Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
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Spleen / cytology
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Spleen / immunology*
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Spleen / metabolism
Substances
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CD4 Antigens
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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H-Y Antigen
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Hyaluronan Receptors
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Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit
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Rag2 protein, mouse
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta