Immunomodulation of RANTES and its effects on trophoblastic cells

J. ALFIERI; L. FRACCAROLI; L. LAROCCA; M. CALAFAT; G. MOR; R. RAMHORST

Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

Congreso; 13th International Congress of Immunology; 2007

International Union of Immunological Societies

Recent evidences indicates that during the early phase of pregnancy, a successful implantation occurs followed by a local proinflammatory and Th1-type response, subsequently controlled by a Th2-type response. Since RANTES (Regulated on activated normal T cells where is expressed and secreted) promotes a Th1 response, we studied its modulation and effects on trophoblastic cells. We performed cocultures of immortalized first trimester trophoblast cells (cellular line Swan 71) and PBMCs from fertile women or with recurrent spontaneous abortions (RSA). After 24h of coculture, intracellular RANTES production, measured by FACS significantly increased in fertile women, however PBMCs from RSA patients displayed a differential kinetics. Moreover, RANTES production was accompained by the secretion of IL-12 p70 and TNFa quantified by ELISA in the supernatats collected at 24, 48 and 72h of coculture. Getting insght into RANTES effect in the feto-maternal cross talk, we measured the apoptosis levels of trophoblastic cells and of CD3+ lymphocytes after coculture with PBMC from RSA or fertile women. Fertile women displayed significantly higher levels of CD3+Annexin V+ cells and lower of apoptotic throphoblastic cells, in opposite with RSA patients. These effects were reverted in the presence of the anti-RANTES neutralizing Ab (p