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Updated: Mar 14, 2026
Isolation of Leukocytes from the Murine Tissues at the Maternal-Fetal Interface
Published on: May 21, 2015
In vivo T-cell activation by a monoclonal αCD3ε antibody induces preterm labor and birth
Nardhy Gomez-Lopez1,2,3, Roberto Romero4,5,6,7, Marcia Arenas-Hernandez8,9,10
1Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA. nardhy.gomez-lopez@wayne.edu.
Problem:
Activated/effector T cells seem to play a role in the pathological inflammation associated with preterm labor. The aim of this study was to determine whether in vivo T-cell activation by a monoclonal αCD3ε antibody induces preterm labor and birth.
Method Of Study:
Pregnant B6 mice were intraperitoneally injected with a monoclonal αCD3ε antibody or its isotype control. The gestational age, the rates of preterm birth and pup mortality at birth as well as the fetal heart rate and umbilical artery pulsatility index were determined.
Results:
Injection of a monoclonal αCD3ε antibody led to preterm labor/birth (αCD3ε 83 ± 16.97% [10/12] vs isotype 0% [0/8]) and increased the rate of pup mortality at birth (αCD3ε 87.30 ± 8.95% [77/85] vs isotype 4.91 ± 4.34% [3/59]). In addition, injection of a monoclonal αCD3ε antibody decreased the fetal heart rate and increased the umbilical artery pulsatility index when compared to the isotype control.
Conclusion:
In vivo T-cell activation by a monoclonal αCD3ε antibody in late gestation induces preterm labor and birth.
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