The effect of a progesterone-induced immunologic blocking factor on NK-mediated resorption

Am J Reprod Immunol. 1990 Dec;24(4):105-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0897.1990.tb01047.x.

Abstract

Transfer of spleen cells from poly (I)-poly(C12U)-treated Balb/c mice to 6.5-days-pregnant Balb/c mice significantly increased the resorption rate (P less than 0.01) from 11% to 48%. The supernatant of progesterone-treated spleen cells from pregnant C3H mice abrogated the effect of spleen cell transfer. We conclude that by blocking NK activity in vivo, the progesterone-induced blocking factor favors the maintenance of pregnancy.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / physiology*
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / drug effects
  • Female
  • Fetal Resorption / prevention & control*
  • Killer Cells, Natural / drug effects*
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C3H
  • Poly I-C*
  • Poly U*
  • Polyribonucleotides
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy, Animal / immunology*
  • Progesterone / pharmacology
  • Spleen / drug effects
  • Spleen / metabolism

Substances

  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Polyribonucleotides
  • blocking factor
  • Poly U
  • Progesterone
  • poly(I).poly(c12,U)
  • Poly I-C