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Updated: Aug 18, 2026
Isolation of Leukocytes from the Murine Tissues at the Maternal-Fetal Interface
Published on: May 21, 2015
CD4(+)CD25+ T regulatory cells in murine pregnancy
1Institute of Medical Immunology, Medical University Berlin, Biomedizinisches Forschungszentrum, Raum 2.0534, Charité, Campus Virchow Klinikum, Augustenburger Platz 1, D-13353 Berlin, Germany. ana.zanclussen@charite.de
Abstract:
Mammalian pregnancy is thought to be a state of immunological tolerance and immunological pregnancy complications may result from incomplete allo-tolerance. We reported recently a higher frequency of Th1 cytokine-producing T cells specific against paternal antigens in abortion-prone mice compared to normal pregnant mice. Since Th2 cells were shown to be not essential for normal pregnancy; alloreactive Th1 cells must be differently regulated. In this context, T regulatory cells (Treg) were proposed to play an essential role. Normal pregnant mice show an expansion of CD4(+)CD25+ and IL-10+ Treg cells at the periphery compared to non-pregnant animals. Further, we reported significantly lower frequencies of Treg in abortion-prone mice. Interestingly, CD4(+)CD25+ Treg cells from normal pregnant mice were able to prevent fetal rejection. Accordingly, down-regulated levels of Treg were also reported during human miscarriage. The putative mechanisms involved in Treg-induced tolerance in mice and humans are discussed in this review.
