Cyclosporin a improves pregnancy outcome by promoting functions of trophoblasts and inducing maternal tolerance to the allogeneic fetus in abortion-prone matings in the mouse

Biol Reprod. 2007 May;76(5):906-14. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod.106.056648. Epub 2007 Jan 17.

Abstract

The embryo expresses paternal antigens foreign to the mother, and therefore has been viewed as a natural allograft. Cyclosporin A (CsA) is an immunosuppressant for preventing allograft rejection. Little is known, however, about the modulating effect of CsA on the materno-fetal relationship. In this study, pregnant CBA/J female mice mated with DBA/2 or BALB/c male mice as abortion-prone and normal pregnancy matings were administered, respectively, with CsA at Day 4 of gestation. We demonstrated that the administration of CsA at the window of implantation resulted in maternal T-cell tolerance to paternal antigen, and it improved pregnancy outcome in the CBA/J multiply sign in box DBA/2 abortion-prone matings. CsA administration enhanced Th2 and reduced Th1 cytokine production at the materno-fetal interface, and it expanded peripheral CD4(+)CD25(+) FOXP3(+) regulatory T cells in abortion-prone matings, implying development of Th2 bias and regulatory T cells. On the other hand, we observed that treatment with CsA led to enhanced growth and invasiveness of trophoblasts in the abortion-prone matings. Together, these findings indicate that CsA in lower dosages can induce materno-fetal tolerance and improve the biologic functions of trophoblast cells in the abortion-prone matings, leading to a successful pregnancy, which is useful in clinical therapeutics for spontaneous pregnancy wastage and other pregnancy complications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Abortion, Spontaneous / physiopathology*
  • Animals
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / physiology
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cyclosporine / pharmacology*
  • Cytokines / biosynthesis
  • Embryo Transfer
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Fetal Resorption / physiopathology
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / physiology
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / pharmacology*
  • Interleukin-2 / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / physiology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred CBA
  • Mice, Inbred DBA
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Outcome*
  • Spleen / cytology
  • Spleen / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / metabolism
  • Th1 Cells / metabolism
  • Th2 Cells / metabolism
  • Thymidine / metabolism
  • Transplantation, Homologous / physiology*
  • Trophoblasts / drug effects*

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Foxp3 protein, mouse
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Interleukin-2
  • Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit
  • Cyclosporine
  • Thymidine