Pivotal Role for Monocytes/Macrophages and Dendritic Cells in Maternal Immune Response to the Developing Embryo in Cattle

• Published in: Biology of reproduction Vol. 87; no. 5; p. 123
• Main Authors: MANSOURI-ATTIA, Nadera, OLIVEIRA, Lilian J, FORDE, Niamh, FAHEY, Alan G, BROWNE, John A, ROCHE, James F, SANDRA, Olivier, REINAUD, Pierrette, LONERGAN, Patrick, FAIR, Trudee
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Madison, WI Society for the Study of Reproduction 01.11.2012
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Cattle - immunology; Cytokines - genetics; Dendritic Cells - immunology; Dendritic Cells - metabolism; Embryo, Mammalian - immunology; Embryonic Development; Endometrium - immunology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression; Gene Expression Regulation; In Situ Hybridization; Interferon Type I - physiology; Macrophages - immunology; Macrophages - metabolism; Monocytes - immunology; Monocytes - metabolism; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Proteins - physiology; Progesterone - physiology; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger - analysis; RNA, Messenger - genetics; Vertebrates: reproduction; Dendritic cell; Embryo; Immune response; Monocyte; Cytokine; Ox; Pregnancy; Vertebrata; Reproduction; Mammalia; Uterus; macrophages and dendritic cells; Animal; Female genital system; Development; immunoregulation; Artiodactyla; Ungulata; Endometrium; pregnancy cytokines; Macrophage
• ISSN: 0006-3363; 1529-7268
• DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.112.101121

In mammals, successful pregnancy is dependent in part on the adaptation or regulation of the maternal immune system to prevent the rejection of the embryonic semiallograft. A modification in Th cell function and secretion is a requirement for the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. Although there is strong evidence from studies in humans and mice linking successful pregnancy with the predominance of Th2-type immunity, the situation in cattle remains unclear. This study describes the characterization of the immune response of the bovine maternal endometrium to the presence of a developing embryo, with specific emphasis on the macrophage and dendritic cell populations and associated factors, using quantitative real-time PCR, in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, in vivo and in vitro models were developed to investigate the potential role of progesterone and interferon-tau (IFNT) in the regulation of these immune factors. There was a marked increase in the population of CD14(+) cells and CD172a-CD11c(+) cells in the endometrium in response to pregnancy, which was paralleled by increased mRNA expression of a number of non-Th-associated factors, including IL12B and IL15, and downregulation of IL18. In addition, we identified several novel IFNT- and progesterone-regulated factors, including IL12B, MCP1, MCP2, PTX3, RSAD2, and TNFA, whose regulation may be critical to pregnancy outcome. Our findings give center stage to non-Th cells, such as monocytes/macrophages and dendritic cells, in the bovine immune response to the semiallogenic embryo. In conclusion, we propose that in cattle, successful pregnancy establishment is associated with a dramatic regulation of the cytokine network, primarily by endometrial monocytes/macrophages and dendritic cells.