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Membrane progesterone receptors in human regulatory T cells: a reality in pregnancy
Author(s) -
Areia A,
ValePereira S,
Alves V,
RodriguesSantos P,
Moura P,
MotaPinto A
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/1471-0528.13294
Subject(s) - foxp3 , flow cytometry , population , monoclonal antibody , pregnancy , andrology , medicine , immunology , antibody , immune system , receptor , endocrinology , biology , environmental health , genetics
Objective To provide evidence of the existence of membrane progesterone receptor alpha (m PR α ) on regulatory T cells (Treg) in peripheral blood during pregnancy, postulating a possible explanation for the effect of progesterone on preterm birth. Design Cross‐sectional study. Setting Tertiary Obstetric Department in a University Hospital. Population Healthy pregnant women. Methods Treg cells from peripheral blood samples were studied by flow cytometry using multiple monoclonal antibody expression. Main outcome measures Evaluate the number and percentage of CD 4 + CD 25 high CD 127 low , the number and percentage of Treg cells among the total CD 4 + T cells, and the percentage and mean fluorescence intensity ( MFI ) of m PR α in that population, using several gating strategies. Results 43 peripheral blood samples were collected from healthy women during pregnancy, whose median gestational age was 28.7 ± 7.1 (16–40) weeks. The percentage of CD 4 + in the total lymphocytes was 43% (32–51) and the percentage of CD 4 + CD 25 high CD 127 low was 4.8% (1.6–5.9), with only 45% (16–72) of those cells expressing the intracellular marker FoxP3 (Treg cell pool). We confirmed the existence of m PR α in that specific population because 8.0% (2.02–33) of the Treg cells were marked with the specific monoclonal antibody, with an m PR α + MFI of 719 (590–1471). Conclusions This research shows that Treg cells express m PR α during pregnancy, which might play an important role in immune modulation by progesterone.