The effect of pregnancy on T-lymphocyte subsets, a pilot study.

Kieffer, T.E.C. (2014) The effect of pregnancy on T-lymphocyte subsets, a pilot study. thesis, Medicine.

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Abstract

Introduction Pregnancy is an exceptional immunological phenomenon because tolerance is created towards the semi-allogeneic fetus. The underlying mechanisms for this tolerance are unclear. We do know that dysfunction of tolerance is associated with pregnancy disorders and it seems that the maternal immune system memorizes fetal antigens to prevent disorders in subsequent pregnancies. This study aims to clarify the effects of pregnancy on T-lymphocyte subsets and in particular memory T-lymphocytes, in order to reveal possible mechanisms responsible for tolerance towards the fetus. Materials and Methods Using flow cytometry, CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocyte subsets were analyzed in the peripheral blood of 16 nulligravid (NG) control women, 9 primigravid (PG) women and 6 para women. Effector memory (EM), central memory (CM), naïve and effector cell subsets, as well as activation and cytokine production profiles, were analyzed and compared between the healthy patient groups using Kruskal Wallis or one-way ANOVA; p<0.05. Results Higher proportions of activated CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocytes were found in PG women and remained higher in para women. Also memory cell frequencies were higher in both PG and para women compared to NG women. In particular, CD4+ memory cells showed a typical pattern of higher EM cell frequencies during pregnancy and higher CM cell frequencies afterwards. Naïve and effector cells were affected by pregnancy as well. Conclusion Pregnancy has temporary and persistent effects on CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocyte subsets in the peripheral blood. This study revealed new effects of pregnancy on the maternal immune system. Our findings bring forward possible mechanisms concerned in fetal maternal immune tolerance which are usable for research on medical interventions for pregnancy disorders. Next to that, this study implies that the female immune system changes permanently during pregnancy.

Item Type:	Thesis (Thesis)
Supervisor name:	Faas, Dr. M.M. and Prins, Dr. J.R.
Faculty:	Medical Sciences
Date Deposited:	25 Jun 2020 10:53
Last Modified:	25 Jun 2020 10:53
URI:	https://umcg.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/1439

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