Mycobacterium vaccae Immunization to OVA Sensitized Pregnant BALB c Mice Suppressed Placental and Postnatal IL-5 and Inducing IFN-γ Secretion

• Published in: Immunopharmacology and immunotoxicology 2008-01, Vol.30 (1), p.1-11
• Main Authors: Akkoc, Tunc, Eifan, Aarif O., Ozdemir, Cevdet, Yazi, Didem, Yesil, Ozlem, Bahceciler, Nerin N., Barlan, Isil B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Animals, Newborn; Asthma - immunology; Asthma - prevention & control; Female; Hygiene hypothesis; Immunization; Interferon gamma; Interferon-gamma - metabolism; Interleukin-5 - metabolism; Lymphocytes - immunology; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Murine model of asthma; Mycobacterium - immunology; Mycobacterium vaccae; Ovalbumin; Ovalbumin - immunology; Placenta - immunology; Pregnancy; Respiratory Hypersensitivity - immunology; Respiratory Hypersensitivity - prevention & control; Th2 Cells - immunology
• ISSN: 0892-3973; 1532-2513
• DOI: 10.1080/08923970701812159

Although the development of atopy in the newborn is determined by a multitude of factors, an intense Th1 stimulus early in life could be protective by facilitating a switch away from Th2. Aimed to determine the effect of single Mycobacterium vaccae (M. vaccae) immunization to OVA-sensitized pregnant mice on IL-5 and IFN-γ secretion from placental lymphocytes and splenocytes of offspring. Pregnant BALB c mice were divided into 4 groups, OVA-sensitized + M. vaccae immunized, OVA-sensitized, M. vaccae immunized and controls. Sensitization with OVA was initiated before mating, and aerosol OVA challenge were performed during pregnancy. M. vaccae immunization was performed on the 12th day of pregnancy. IL-5 and IFN-γ levels of placental lymphocytes were analyzed on the 18th day of pregnancy and splenocytes of offspring on the 2nd and 28th days during postnatal period. A single administration of M. vaccae to OVA-sensitized pregnant mice downregulated IL-5 secretion and induced IFN-γ secretion from placental lymphocytes. On the other hand, after M. vaccae immunization downregulation of IL-5 levels and upregulation of IFN-γ secretion persisted in offspring when determined on 2nd and 28th days of life. Vaccination with M. Vaccae to OVA-sensitized pregnant BALB c mice prevented Th2 immune responses by enhancing secretion of IFN-γ and lowering IL-5 levels during pregnancy and the effect persisted during the postnatal period in offspring.