Re-evaluation of pathophysiology of normal pregnancy and complicated pregnancy from the viewpoint of immune tolerance

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23390386
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Obstetrics and gynecology
• Research Institution: University of Toyama
• Principal Investigator: SAITO SHIGERU 富山大学, 大学院医学薬学研究部(医学), 教授 (30175351)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): TAKIZAWA Toshihiro 日本医科大学, 医学系研究科, 教授 (90271220) ; TABUCHI Yoshiaki 富山大学, 生命科学先端研究センター, 教授 (20322109)
• Project Period (FY): 2011-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 制御性T細胞 / 流産 / 妊娠高血圧症候群 / NK細胞 / miRNA / 妊娠維持 / ヒト / マウス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Regulatory T (Treg) cells play central role for induction and maintenance of tolerance. The frequency of proliferating paternal antigen specific Treg cells was significantly increased in uterine draining lymph nodes before implantation and in pregnant uterus just after implantation. We found that priming by seminal fluid is important for the induction of PA-specific Treg cells.
The frequencies of effector Treg cells and Foxp3+T eff cells in the decidua of miscarriage cases with a normal embryo karyotype were significantly lower and significantly higher than those in normally progressing pregnancies, respectively.
We also showed the same results in preeclampsia. These findings suggest that tolerance system was distracted in miscarriage with a normal embryo karyotype and preeclampsia. We firstly showed miRNA derived from placenta affected mRNA expression in NK cells suggesting that miRNA derived from placenta can affect the maternal NK cells function during pregnancy.

Free Research Field

産科婦人科