Abstract
Maternal decidual CD8+ T (dCD8+ T) cells must integrate the antithetical demands of maternal–fetal tolerance and anti-viral immunity to establish a successful pregnancy. T-cell immunoglobulin mucin-3 (Tim-3) and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) are two important co-inhibitory molecules that regulating CD8+ T cells responses during infection and tumor. In the present study, we examined the co-expression of Tim-3 and CTLA-4 on CD8+ T cells during pregnancy and found the higher frequency of Tim-3+CTLA-4+dCD8+ T cells in response to trophoblasts. This Tim-3+CTLA-4+dCD8+ T cells subset showed an active status and produced more anti-inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, the decreased number and altered function of Tim-3+CTLA-4+dCD8+ T cells correlated to miscarriage. Combined blocking Tim-3 and CTLA-4 pathways were highly effective in inhibiting the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines and were detrimental to the maintenance of pregnancy. Together, these findings supported that Tim-3 and CTLA-4 pathways might play positive roles in the establishment and/or maintenance of maternal–fetal tolerance so to promote the maintenance of normal pregnancy. So the reproductive safety must be considered, especially when anti-Tim-3/CTLA-4 antibody (and other immune checkpoint inhibitors) are used in pregnancy.
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | 407 |
Journal | Cell Death and Disease |
Volume | 10 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 1 2019 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology
- Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
- Cancer Research