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Am J Clin Exp Immunol 2013;2(3):222-233
Original Article
Origin of Foxp3+ cells during pregnancy
Ana Teles, Catharina Thuere, Paul Ojiambo Wafula, Tarek El-Mousleh, Maria Laura Zenclussen, Ana Claudia
Zenclussen
Experimental Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany; PDBEB,
Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Portugal
Received September 26, 2013; Accepted October 8, 2013; Epub October 16, 2013; Published October 30, 2013
Abstract: Pregnancy establishment and maintenance represents a challenge for the maternal immune system because
it has to be alert against pathogens while tolerating paternal alloantigens expressed in fetal structures. Regulatory T
cells (Tregs) are important for successful implantation and involved in allotolerance towards paternal antigens. The
origin and mechanisms leading to Treg generation during pregnancy at different stages remain under discussion. We
report an accumulation of Helios+ Tregs in thymus and in the lymph nodes draining the uterus at early pregnancy. At
later pregnancy stages an expanded population of Foxp3+ Tregs was generated in the periphery as we showed in a
Rag-1-/- model of cell transfer. Our data suggest that Tregs, predominantly of thymic origin, are needed for pregnancy
establishment. At later pregnancy stages an extra thymic Treg population contributes to the Treg pool in the periphery.
Our data provides new insights in the origin of Tregs during pregnancy that are essential to understand natural
mechanisms of tolerance acquisition. (AJCEI1309002).
Keywords: Regulatory T cells, thymic Tregs, peripheral Tregs, pregnancy
Address correspondence to: Dr. Ana Claudia Zenclussen, Experimental Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Faculty,
Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Gerhart-Hauptmann-Straße 35, 39108 Magdeburg, Germany. Tel: +49
-391-67-17460; Fax: +49-391-67-17440; E-mail: ana.zenclussen@med.ovgu.de; Dr. Ana Teles, Experimental Obstetrics
and Gynecology, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Gerhart-Hauptmann-Straße 35, 39108
Magdeburg, Germany. Tel: +49 -391-67-17510; Fax: +49-391-67-17440; E-mail: ana.teles@med.ovgu.de
Original Article
Origin of Foxp3+ cells during pregnancy
Ana Teles, Catharina Thuere, Paul Ojiambo Wafula, Tarek El-Mousleh, Maria Laura Zenclussen, Ana Claudia
Zenclussen
Experimental Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany; PDBEB,
Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Portugal
Received September 26, 2013; Accepted October 8, 2013; Epub October 16, 2013; Published October 30, 2013
Abstract: Pregnancy establishment and maintenance represents a challenge for the maternal immune system because
it has to be alert against pathogens while tolerating paternal alloantigens expressed in fetal structures. Regulatory T
cells (Tregs) are important for successful implantation and involved in allotolerance towards paternal antigens. The
origin and mechanisms leading to Treg generation during pregnancy at different stages remain under discussion. We
report an accumulation of Helios+ Tregs in thymus and in the lymph nodes draining the uterus at early pregnancy. At
later pregnancy stages an expanded population of Foxp3+ Tregs was generated in the periphery as we showed in a
Rag-1-/- model of cell transfer. Our data suggest that Tregs, predominantly of thymic origin, are needed for pregnancy
establishment. At later pregnancy stages an extra thymic Treg population contributes to the Treg pool in the periphery.
Our data provides new insights in the origin of Tregs during pregnancy that are essential to understand natural
mechanisms of tolerance acquisition. (AJCEI1309002).
Keywords: Regulatory T cells, thymic Tregs, peripheral Tregs, pregnancy
Address correspondence to: Dr. Ana Claudia Zenclussen, Experimental Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Faculty,
Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Gerhart-Hauptmann-Straße 35, 39108 Magdeburg, Germany. Tel: +49
-391-67-17460; Fax: +49-391-67-17440; E-mail: ana.zenclussen@med.ovgu.de; Dr. Ana Teles, Experimental Obstetrics
and Gynecology, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Gerhart-Hauptmann-Straße 35, 39108
Magdeburg, Germany. Tel: +49 -391-67-17510; Fax: +49-391-67-17440; E-mail: ana.teles@med.ovgu.de
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