Pregnancy favors the expansion of circulating functional follicular helper T Cells. (June 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Monteiro, Clarice; Kasahara, Taissa M.; Castro, José Roberto; Sacramento, Priscila M.; Hygino, Joana; Centurião, Newton; Cassano, Tatiane; Lopes, Lana M. Ferreira; Leite, Simone; Silva, Vander Guimarães; Gupta, Sudhir; Bento, Cleonice A.M.
• Is Part Of: Journal of reproductive immunology. Volume 121(2017)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 10
• Publication Date: 2017-06
• Subjects: Bcl-6 transcription factor B cell lymphoma-6 -- CMV cytomegalovirus -- E2–17β estradiol -- ELISA Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay -- GC germinal center -- HbsAg hepatitis B superficial antigen -- HBV hepatitis B virus -- HIV Human immunodeficiency virus -- ICOS Inducible T-cell co-stimulator -- IFN interferon -- IgG immunoglobulin G -- IL interleukin -- mAbs monoclonal antibodies -- nPW non-pregnant women -- PD-1 programmed cell death receptor-1 -- PMA phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate -- PW pregnant women -- TFH T follicular helper -- Th T helper -- TMB 3, 3′, 5, 5′-Tetramethylbenzidine -- TNF tumor necrosis factor; Pregnancy -- TFH cells -- Estrogen -- Antibodies; Reproduction -- Immunological aspects -- Periodicals; Immunology -- Periodicals; Allergy and Immunology -- Periodicals; Reproduction -- Periodicals; Reproduction -- Immunologie -- Périodiques; Immunologie -- Périodiques; Immunology; Reproduction -- Immunological aspects; Periodicals; Electronic journals; Electronic journals; 615.766
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2017.04.007
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0165-0378

Abstract

Highlights: The pregnancy favors the expansion of CXCR3 + PD-1 + ICOS + TFH cells. The proportion of IL-21 + TFH cells was higher in pregnant women. Serum levels of IgG anti-HBsAg was directly associated with IL-21 + TFH cells. In vivo estrogen levels were correlated with the percentage of IL-21 + TFH cells. Abstract: Pregnancy favors antibody production, and some evidence has suggested a direct effect of estrogen on B cells. The impact of pregnancy on circulating follicular helper T (TFH ) cells, typically identified by the expression of CD45RO and CXCR5, has not been previously investigated. Here, the percentage of TFH cells, co-expressing or not PD-1, ICOS, or CXCR3 markers was significantly higher in pregnant women (PW) as compared with non-pregnant ones (nPW). Furthermore, the percentage of CXCR3 + TFH cells able to produce IL-6, IL-21, and IL-10 was significantly higher in PW than nPW. Interestingly, anti-CMV and anti-HBs antibody titers were significantly higher in the plasma of PW and were directly correlated with IL-21-producing CXCR3 + TFH cells. Finally, peripheral estrogen levels, but not progesterone, were positively related to either PD-1 + CXCR3 + TFH cells or plasma anti-CMV and anti-HBs IgG antibodies. In summary, our data suggests a positive effect of pregnancy on the proportion of CD4 + T cell subset specialized in helping B cells. This phenomenon, which could be related to the high estrogen levels produced during pregnancy, may help to explain why pregnancy favor humoral immunity.