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Transient modification within a pool of CD4 T cells in the maternal spleen
Author(s) -
Bonney Elizabeth A.,
Shepard Michelle T.,
Bizargity Peyman
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.297
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1365-2567
pISSN - 0019-2805
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2567.2011.03486.x
Subject(s) - spleen , transient (computer programming) , biology , immunology , microbiology and biotechnology , computer science , operating system
Summary Classic models suggest maternal tolerance is dependent on regulation of fetal antigen‐specific T cell responses. We hypothesize that factors unique to a particular fetal antigen‐specific T cell, rather than the state of pregnancy per se , are important determinants of T cell fate during pregnancy. To investigate the fate of fetal antigen‐specific CD4 T cells in the systemic circulation, we examined spleen cells in a CD4 T cell receptor transgenic mouse specific for the male antigen H‐Y. We observed a transient decrease in CD4 + Vβ6 + cell numbers and, due to transient internalization of CD4, an increase in CD4 − Vβ6 + T cells. Antigen‐specific in vitro responsiveness was not depressed by pregnancy. These data suggest that pregnancy supports fluidity in this particular CD4 T cell pool that may, in turn, help to meet competing requirements of maternal immune responsiveness and fetal tolerance.