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Analysis of regulatory T cells and CTLA-4 expression in pregnant women according to seropositivity to Toxoplasma gondii

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 March 2020

Karine Rezende-Oliveira Open the ORCID record for Karine Rezende-Oliveira [Opens in a new window] ,
César Gómez-Hernández Open the ORCID record for César Gómez-Hernández [Opens in a new window] ,
Marcos Vinicius da Silva Open the ORCID record for Marcos Vinicius da Silva [Opens in a new window] ,
Fernanda Rodrigues Helmo  and
Virmondes Rodrigues Open the ORCID record for Virmondes Rodrigues [Opens in a new window]
Karine Rezende-Oliveira
Affiliation:
Laboratório de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Campus do Pontal, Ituiutaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil
César Gómez-Hernández*
Affiliation:
Laboratório de Imunologia, Universidade Federal Do Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Marcos Vinicius da Silva
Affiliation:
Laboratório de Imunologia, Universidade Federal Do Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Fernanda Rodrigues Helmo
Affiliation:
Laboratório de Imunologia, Universidade Federal Do Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Virmondes Rodrigues
Affiliation:
Laboratório de Imunologia, Universidade Federal Do Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil
*
Author for correspondence: Cesar Gómez-Hernández, E-mail: cesar_cgh@hotmail.com
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Abstract

Pregnancy is considered a period in which immunomodulation occurs, although it is important for the maintenance of the foetus, could contribute to infections as Toxoplasma gondii. Immune response cells such as regulatory T cells participate in this immunomodulation, and surface molecules such as CTLA-4 develop an immunosuppressive role, could contribute to the establishment of the parasite. This study aimed to evaluate the presence of regulatory T cells and the expression of CTLA-4 in parturient and non-pregnant seropositive and seronegative for anti-T. gondii antibodies. Sixty-two participants were evaluated, 14 parturient with negative serology, 23 parturient with positive serology, 16 non-pregnant women seronegative and 9 non-pregnant women seropositive. Immunophenotyping was performed for characterize TCD4+Foxp3+ cells, T CD4+CD25-Foxp3+, TCD4+CD25highFoxp3+, TCD4+CTLA-4+, TCD4+CD25-CTLA-4+ and TCD4+CD25highCTLA-4+. We observed a lower level of CD4+CD25highFoxp3+ cells from seropositive parturient compared with seropositive non-pregnant cells. Significative levels of CD4+CD25-Foxp3+ cells from seronegative pregnant were observed compared with seropositive pregnant cells. Furthermore, the higher level of CD4+CD25-CTLA-4+ cells populations was detected in seropositive pregnant cells compared with seropositive non-pregnant. Although a significant increase in CTLA-4 cells was observed in pregnant women positive for anti-T. gondii antibodies, this increase did not cause a risk of reactivation of the infection.

Keywords

CTLA-4pregnancyparturientstoxoplasmosetregs cells
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 147 , Issue 7 , June 2020 , pp. 810 - 815
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

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Footnotes

*

Contributed equally to this work.

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