Analysis of the Expression and Immunostimulatory Capacity of Class I Major Histocompatibility Antigens on Rat Trophoblast Cell Lines

Hunt, Joan S.; Yang, Yaping; Wheaton, David; Kunz, Heinz W.; Gill, Thomas J.

doi:10.1111/j.1600-0897.1991.tb00710.x

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 32 publications

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“…A number of immune regulatory mechanisms are involved in successful pregnancy. These include a shift away from T helper 1 (Th1)‐type immunity [5–7], modified expression of MHC class I antigen on placental trophoblasts [8–12] and the production of immunosuppressive factors [13–18]. One of these immunosuppressive factors, known as early pregnancy factor (EPF), has also been shown to be induced by partial hepatectomy [17, 18].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Immunization with a Synthetic Peptide Conjugate Derived from the N‐Terminal Sequence of Either the β‐Chain of Haemoglobin or the Immunosuppressive Protein (reOLT 4) Reduces the Litter Size of Pregnant Rats

et al. 1999

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A synthetic peptide conjugate based on the N-terminal sequence of a 10 000 MW immunosuppressive serum protein (reOLT 4) was used to immunize female Lewis rats prior to mating, in order to determine whether blocking this protein had an effect on pregnancy. The N-terminal sequence of (reOLT 4) has close sequence homology to the beta-chain of rat haemoglobin so a peptide conjugate based on the N-terminal sequence of this protein was also used to immunize female Lewis rats. Controls included animals that were not immunized and animals that received the peptide carrier, diphtheria toxoid (DT). No statistical differences were found in gestation time or litter sizes in these groups. Differences were, however, evident between these groups and animals that received DT-(reOLT 4) (group 4) or the DT-beta-chain haemoglobin (group 5). There were no statistical differences in litter size or gestation time for group 4 when compared with group 5. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and dot-blot analysis revealed that rats from both groups also had strong responses against DT, the peptide conjugate they were immunized with and the corresponding full-length protein. In both cases, animals from group 4 and group 5 had weak responses to the peptide that they did not receive, together with lower erythrocyte counts and haematocrits, and elevated heart to body weight ratios. Additionally, antibody purified on a (reOLT 4) immunoaffinity column was capable of binding to rat erythrocytes. A second investigation comparing anaemia prior to fertilization and maintained anaemia over the gestation period revealed that only the latter was capable of decreasing litter size to the same degree as obtained for groups 4 and 5. We conclude that for groups 4 and 5 it is the autoimmune effect of continual anaemia over the gestation period, mediated by autoantibodies, which results in the observed lower litter size.

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