Analysis of Th17/Treg function for breakthrough pathological mechanisms of preterm labor/pregnancy induced hypertension

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24791107
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Embryonic/Neonatal medicine
• Research Institution: University of Toyama
• Principal Investigator: ITO Mika 富山大学, 大学院医学薬学研究部(医学), 特命助教 (80401850)
• Research Collaborator: MIZUGUCHI Maiko
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: Th1７ / 胎盤 / C4d

Outline of Final Research Achievements

A fetus has often been compared to a graft for a mother. Pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) has also be considered to be a kind of transplant rejection. In addition, it has been reported that Th17 might play an important role in the rejection of an organ transplant. To confirm the role of Th17 in fetal-maternal rejection of the placenta, we immunohistochemically examined the expressions of CD4, CD8, C4d, interleukin-17 in the placental tissues of 8 severe PIH cases with villitis of origin unknown (VUE). The strong focal deposits of C4d were seen in one of 8 cases. Villitis and the deposition of C4d in the placenta was seen in only one case out of 8 severe PIH cases, in which anti-phospholipid antibody was also positive. Vast majority of infiltrating lymphocytes in the villi were CD8-positive cytotoxic T cells , while IL-17-positive cells scarcely seen. In this study, we could not determine the involvement of Th17 in fetal-maternal rejection of the placenta.

Free Research Field

産科学