Premium
Luteinizing Hormone Contributes to Fetal Tolerance by Regulating Adaptive Immune Responses
Author(s) -
Schumacher Anne,
Poloski Eileen,
Spörke Dominique,
Zenclussen Ana C.
Publication year - 2014
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 - 10.1111/aji.12215
Subject(s) - luteinizing hormone , pregnancy , fetus , hormone , immune system , human chorionic gonadotropin , abortion , immune tolerance , phenotype , gestation , endocrinology , medicine , biology , andrology , immunology , genetics , gene
Problem Pregnancy hormones were proposed to be crucially involved in fetal tolerance. Recently, we showed that human chorionic gonadotropin (h CG ) not only increases the number and activity of regulatory T cells ( T reg) but also retains tolerogenic dendritic cells ( DC s). Here, we investigate whether the highly homologous luteinizing hormone ( LH ) modulates T reg number and DC phenotype and thereby supports pregnancy. Method of study Abortion‐prone females were treated with LH or PBS on different gestation days. Pregnancy outcome and the number and phenotype of T reg and DC s were evaluated in the periphery and locally. Results We discovered that LH application completely prevented fetal rejection in abortion‐prone females. This protective effect was associated with a T reg augmentation peripherally and locally. Moreover, LH reduced the number of total and mature DC s. Conclusion Our data suggest that LH , similar to h CG , is involved in the regulation of adaptive immune responses, thus contributing to fetal tolerance.