CD4+CD25+ regulatory/suppressor T cells prevent allogeneic fetus rejection in mice

Immunol Lett. 2006 Jan 15;102(1):106-9. doi: 10.1016/j.imlet.2005.07.002. Epub 2005 Aug 3.

Abstract

Recent evidences indicate that naturally occurring CD4+CD25+ regulatory/suppressor T cells (T(reg)) regulate not only autoimmunity, but also alloreactivity. In mice, they notably control tolerance to allogeneic transplants and graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Here, we studied the role of T(reg) in maternal tolerance to fetuses, i.e. natural semi-allogeneic grafts. We show that semi-allogeneic pregnancies in mice induce an expansion of T(reg), but not of activated CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, in para-aortic lymph nodes draining fetal antigens. The treatment of female mice with an anti-CD25 antibody before mating results in depletion of T(reg) and expansion of activated CD4+ and CD8+ T cells solely in the draining lymph nodes, ultimately leading to fetus rejection. These observations were not made in the context of syngeneic pregnancies. Thus, T(reg) play a major role in maternal-fetal tolerance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Embryo Loss / immunology*
  • Embryo Loss / prevention & control*
  • Female
  • Lymph Nodes / immunology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Pregnancy
  • Receptors, Interleukin-2 / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*

Substances

  • Receptors, Interleukin-2