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Do Fetal Microchimeric Cells Influence Experimental Autoimmune Myocarditis?
Roberto Stefan de Almeida Ribeiro1,2, Kelly Cristina Demarque3, Israel Figueiredo Júnior4
1Department of Immunobiology, Institute of Biology, Federal Fluminense University, Niterói, Brazil.
Fetal and Pediatric Pathology
|October 22, 2021
Summary
Fetal microchimerism, where fetal cells persist in the mother, was studied in experimental autoimmune myocarditis. Allogeneic mating increased fetal cells in cardiac tissue, reducing inflammation and antibody production.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cardiovascular Research
- Reproductive Biology
Background:
- Fetal microchimerism involves the exchange of cells between mother and fetus.
- Experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM) is an immune-mediated cardiac disease.
- The role of fetal microchimerism in maternal immune responses, particularly in cardiac conditions, remains incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and influence of fetal microchimerism in the cardiac tissue of female mice with experimental autoimmune myocarditis.
- To compare the immune response and cardiac inflammation in nulliparous, syngeneically mated, and allogeneically mated female mice subjected to EAM.
Main Methods:
- Female BALB/c mice (nulliparous, syngeneic mating, or allogeneic mating with C57BL/6 males) were immunized with cardiac myosin peptide MyHC-α614-629 or served as controls.
- Immunization was performed 6-8 weeks postpartum, and mice were assessed 21 days later.
- Cardiac tissue was analyzed for inflammatory infiltrate, fibroplasia, anti-MyHC-α614-629 antibody levels, and the frequency of microchimeric fetal cells.
Main Results:
- Allogeneically mated, immunized mice exhibited lower anti-MyHC-α614-629 antibody production compared to immunized nulliparous mice.
- Immunized nulliparous females showed intense cardiac mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate and fibroplasia.
- Mated females, particularly those from allogeneic mating, displayed a reduced inflammatory reaction and an increased frequency of microchimeric fetal cells in cardiac tissue post-immunization.
Conclusions:
- Allogeneic fetal microchimeric cells in the maternal cardiac tissue may play a role in mitigating the inflammatory response during experimental autoimmune myocarditis.
- The presence of fetal microchimerism, especially from allogeneic pregnancies, could offer a protective effect against autoimmune cardiac inflammation.
