Adoptive cell therapy with induced regulatory T cells normalises the abortion rate in abortion-prone mice

Reprod Fertil Dev. 2021 Feb;33(3):220-228. doi: 10.1071/RD20063.

Abstract

Ovarian hormones drive invivo generation of regulatory T cells (Tregs) during pregnancy. Little is known about the therapeutic potential of invitro hormone-derived Tregs in pregnancy loss. We investigated the effects of hormone-induced Tregs in a murine model of abortion. CD4+CD25- T cells were isolated from the spleens of CBA/J mice and stimulated with either 17β-oestradiol (E2), progesterone (P4) or transforming growth factor-β1 (TGFB1) plus retinoic acid (RA) for 4 days to generate induced Tregs (iTregs). On Days 1-4 of gestation, DBA/2-mated pregnant CBA/J female mice (abortion prone) were injected intravenously with iTregs or Tregs isolated from normal BALB/c-mated pregnant CBA/J mice (np-Tregs). On Day 14, the number of resorbed fetuses was assessed. Serum interferon (IFN)-γ and uterine forkhead box p3 (Foxp3) expression was analysed by ELISA and immunohistochemistry respectively. Using a 3H-thymidine incorporation assay, isolated CD4+CD25+ Tregs induced by the different treatments suppressed the proliferation of CD4+CD25- T cells. Adoptive transfer of iTregs (from all induction groups) significantly decreased fetal resorption in abortion-prone mice. There were no significant changes in serum IFN-γ concentrations after the adoptive transfer of iTregs or np-Tregs. Immunohistochemistry revealed significantly higher Foxp3 expression in gravid uteri from mice injected with np-Tregs and P4-induced iTregs than in the phosphate-buffered saline-treated group. The findings of this study indicate a potential therapeutic benefit of invitro-induced Tregs in patients with recurrent abortion.

MeSH terms

  • Abortion, Spontaneous / immunology
  • Abortion, Spontaneous / metabolism
  • Abortion, Spontaneous / physiopathology
  • Abortion, Spontaneous / prevention & control*
  • Adoptive Transfer*
  • Animals
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Estradiol / pharmacology
  • Female
  • Fetal Resorption
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Gestational Age
  • Interferon-gamma / blood
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred CBA
  • Mice, Inbred DBA
  • Pregnancy
  • Progesterone / pharmacology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / transplantation*
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / pharmacology
  • Uterus / immunology*
  • Uterus / metabolism
  • Uterus / physiopathology

Substances

  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Foxp3 protein, mouse
  • IFNG protein, mouse
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1
  • Progesterone
  • Estradiol
  • Interferon-gamma