Endometrial Th2 cytokine expression throughout the menstrual cycle and early pregnancy

Embryonic implantation and maintenance of pregnancy is influenced by the maternal immunological response. Type 2 T-helper (Th2) cells secrete interleukins 4, 5, 6 and 10 and are associated with suppression of cell-mediated immunity. Temporal changes in the expression of these cytokines were detectab...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Human reproduction (Oxford) 1996-08, Vol.11 (8), p.1747-1754
Main Authors: KRASNOW, J. S, TOLLERUD, D. J, NAUS, G, DELOIA, J. A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Cells, Cultured
Endometrium - cytology
Endometrium - metabolism
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Hormone metabolism and regulation
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
Interleukins - metabolism
Menstrual Cycle - metabolism
Pregnancy - metabolism
Pregnancy Trimester, First
Pregnancy. Parturition. Lactation
T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer - metabolism
Time Factors
Vertebrates: reproduction
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Embryonic implantation and maintenance of pregnancy is influenced by the maternal immunological response. Type 2 T-helper (Th2) cells secrete interleukins 4, 5, 6 and 10 and are associated with suppression of cell-mediated immunity. Temporal changes in the expression of these cytokines were detectable by immunohistochemistry throughout the menstrual cycle. In pregnancy, 10-fold or greater increases in interleukin 6 and 10 secretion were detectable by enzyme-linked immunoassay compared with the non-pregnant state. The pattern of expression of Th2 cytokines suggests that progesterone may influence endometrial cytokine secretion. During pregnancy, Th2 expression paralleled that of vimentin, a stromal cell marker, suggesting that these cells may be a principal source of Th2 cytokines may be a mechanism of suppressing cell-mediated immunity in the endometrium, which may in turn enhance embryonic implantation and maintenance of pregnancy.
ISSN:0268-1161
1460-2350