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Nerve Growth Factor and its Functional Receptor TrkA are Up‐regulated in Murine Decidual Tissue of Stress‐triggered and Substance P‐mediated Abortion
Author(s) -
Tometten Mareike,
Klapp Burghard F.,
Joachim Ricarda,
Fest Stefan,
Zenclussen Ana C.,
Peters Eva M.,
Hertwig Kai,
Arck Petra C.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
american journal of reproductive immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.071
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1600-0897
pISSN - 1046-7408
DOI - 10.1046/j.8755-8920.2003.00123.x
Subject(s) - nerve growth factor , tropomyosin receptor kinase a , decidua , endocrinology , medicine , neuropeptide y receptor , biology , low affinity nerve growth factor receptor , immune system , neurotrophin , receptor , pregnancy , neuropeptide , fetus , immunology , placenta , genetics
Problem: Stress, elicited by environmental and social conditions, is known to affect the homeostasis of the nervous, endocrine and immune systems. In pregnancy, perceived stress results in a predomination of inflammatory abortion‐associated Th1 cytokines over immunosuppressive, pregnancy‐protective‐associated Th2 cytokines, putatively via neuropeptide substance P (SP). Nerve growth factor (NGF), an important trophic factor for sympathetic neurons, has been implicated in the responsiveness of immune‐competent cells through its functional receptor, tropomyosin receptor kinase (TrkA). Thus, the aim of the present study was to identify a cross‐talk between distinct neurotrophic and immune mediators in pregnancy maintenance. Method of Study: Using immune fluorescence, we evaluated decidual and placental expression of NGF and TrkA on gestation day (gd) 13.5 in the abortion‐prone mouse model CBA/J × DBA/2J in (1) CBA/J female control mice; (2) CBA/J mice exposed to stress on gd 5.5; and (3) CBA/J mice injected with SP on gd 5.5 to mimick stress perception. Results: Stress and SP injection significantly increased the abortion rate and up‐regulated decidual NGF and TrkA expression compared with the control. Stress, but not SP injection down‐regulated placental NGF, whereas no changes in placental TrkA were observed. Conclusion: Our data suggest a functional role for NGF in stress‐triggered, SP‐mediated abortion.