RELEVANCE OF VIP IN THE MAINTENANCE OF THE IMMUNE OVARIAN HOMEOSTASIS

LARA CASTAGNOLA; LUCILA GALLINO; DAIANA VOTA; ESTEBAN GRASSO; SOLEDAD GORI; FERNANDA PARBORELL; CLAUDIA PÉREZ LEIRÓS; VANESA HAUK; ROSANNA RAMHORST

Congreso; LXXI REUNIÓN CIENTÍFICA ANUAL DE LA SOCIEDAD ARGENTINA DE INMUNOLOGÍA (SAI); 2023

SOCIEDAD ARGENTINA DE INMUNOLOGÍA (SAI)

Ovarian aging is associated with inflammation, contributing to the decline inoocyte count and quality. Since the vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is animmunopeptide found in the reproductive tract with anti inflammatory effectsinducing a tolerogenic response, we aim to understand VIP contribution to controlovarian immune homeostasis in order to prevent premature aging.Wild type (WT) mice 3 (young) or 8 (aged) months old and young VIP Knockout(KO) in estrus were used. The ovaries were examined after histological staining,reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were measured by flow cytometry usingDCFH-DA probe and IL-1β secretion was determined by ELISA. Long-termphagocytosis assays (24, 48, 72h) of apoptotic thymocytes were performed toobtain foamy macrophages. Peritoneal WT or VIP KO macrophages werepreconditioned with ovarian media from WT or VIP KO mice for 48h, followed byshort-term phagocytosis assays (120 min) using apoptotic bodies stained withPKH26 to assess their phagocytic capacity. Phagocytic capacity was measuredas the percentage of PKH26+ cells in the macrophage gate. In both assays, afterphagocytosis, lipid droplets were determined by flow cytometry using BODIPY493/503.We confirmed that during reproductive aging WT females show a smaller numberof ovarian follicles, accompanied with altered ovarian histology, in comparisonwith young WT mice. These parameters were found to be exacerbated in youngVIP KO mice, with significantly more atretic follicles and less mature follicles(p