Huijuan Xiong1, Changju Zhou, Guannan Qi. 1. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To evaluate the proportional changes of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) in maternal peripheral blood during pregnancy and labor at term and preterm. METHODS: Peripheral blood was collected from 20 non-pregnant controls and 139 pregnant women (60 at different gestational ages, 48 at term with or without labor, and 31 in threatened or actual preterm labor). CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Tregs in peripheral blood samples were analyzed in peripheral blood samples by flow cytometry. Placentas from preterm women were examined for the presence of histological chorioamnionitis (HC). RESULTS: The percentage of circulating CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Tregs was significantly increased in women during the first trimester compared with non-pregnant controls (P < 0.0001), peaking during the second trimester and then declining slightly in the third trimester. There was a significantly lower level of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Tregs in women with term labor than in those at term without labor (P < 0.0001). Women admitted in preterm labor had a lower proportion of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ cells than those admitted with threatening preterm labor (P < 0.0001). Preterm women with evidence of HC had decreased proportion of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ cells than those without HC in preterm deliveries (P=0.008). Moreover, the percentages of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ cells in preterm subjects, irrespective of the HC status, were significantly diminished compared with women with normal pregnancy at the same gestational age (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Our data reveal a marked elevation of peripheral blood CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Tregs during early pregnancy, but a dramatic decline during labor, either at term or preterm, suggesting their involvement in the maintenance of pregnancy and the initiation of labor.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the proportional changes of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) in maternal peripheral blood during pregnancy and labor at term and preterm. METHODS: Peripheral blood was collected from 20 non-pregnant controls and 139 pregnant women (60 at different gestational ages, 48 at term with or without labor, and 31 in threatened or actual preterm labor). CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Tregs in peripheral blood samples were analyzed in peripheral blood samples by flow cytometry. Placentas from preterm women were examined for the presence of histological chorioamnionitis (HC). RESULTS: The percentage of circulating CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Tregs was significantly increased in women during the first trimester compared with non-pregnant controls (P < 0.0001), peaking during the second trimester and then declining slightly in the third trimester. There was a significantly lower level of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Tregs in women with term labor than in those at term without labor (P < 0.0001). Women admitted in preterm labor had a lower proportion of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ cells than those admitted with threatening preterm labor (P < 0.0001). Preterm women with evidence of HC had decreased proportion of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ cells than those without HC in preterm deliveries (P=0.008). Moreover, the percentages of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ cells in preterm subjects, irrespective of the HC status, were significantly diminished compared with women with normal pregnancy at the same gestational age (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Our data reveal a marked elevation of peripheral blood CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Tregs during early pregnancy, but a dramatic decline during labor, either at term or preterm, suggesting their involvement in the maintenance of pregnancy and the initiation of labor.
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