Martins C, Lima J, Nunes G, Borrego L M
CEDOC, Chronic Diseases Research Center, NOVA Medical School|FCM; Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
Ginecologia e Obstetrícia, Hospital CUF Descobertas, Lisbon, Portugal.
J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol. 2017;27(1):46-57. doi: 10.18176/jiaci.0086.
Allergic asthma and rhinitis are common in pregnancy. The immune mechanisms underlying the effects of asthma on pregnancy and vice versa are not completely understood. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in regulatory T and B cells in asthmatic women from late pregnancy to postpartum.
Four groups of women were enrolled for this study: asthmatic (n=23) and healthy (n=43) third trimester-pregnant women and asthmatic (n=33) and healthy (n=35) nonpregnant women. Pregnant women were also evaluated postpartum (>6 weeks after delivery). Blood samples were taken from each woman and flow cytometry was used to characterize circulating regulatory T cells (Tregs) and regulatory B cells (Bregs). Foxp3 expression was assessed in CD4DimCD25Hi Tregs.
Tregs did not vary significantly from pregnancy to postpartum in asthmatic or healthy women, but CD24HiCD38Hi Bregs decreased in pregnancy and increased significantly postpartum. Foxp3 expression in Tregs was also impaired during pregnancy in both asthmatic and healthy women, but recovered postpartum. Asthmatic pregnant women had higher Foxp3 expression levels than healthy pregnant women (P=.007), probably due to the use of control medication.
Women with controlled asthma showed variations in regulatory cell subsets during pregnancy and postpartum. A similar pattern was observed for Foxp3 expression and CD24HiCD38Hi Bregs during this period, corroborating the interaction between Tregs and Bregs in immune responses. Considering the immunomodulatory potential of these immune mediators, more studies are needed to evaluate their relationship with asthma and rhinitis complications in pregnancy.
过敏性哮喘和鼻炎在孕期较为常见。哮喘对妊娠影响的免疫机制以及反之妊娠对哮喘影响的免疫机制尚未完全明确。本研究旨在调查哮喘女性从妊娠晚期到产后调节性T细胞和B细胞的变化。
本研究纳入四组女性：哮喘组（n = 23）和健康组（n = 43）的孕晚期孕妇以及哮喘组（n = 33）和健康组（n = 35）的非孕妇。孕妇在产后（分娩后>6周）也进行了评估。采集每位女性的血样，采用流式细胞术对循环调节性T细胞（Tregs）和调节性B细胞（Bregs）进行特征分析。在CD4DimCD25Hi Tregs中评估Foxp3表达。
哮喘或健康女性从妊娠到产后Tregs无显著变化，但CD24HiCD38Hi Bregs在孕期减少，产后显著增加。哮喘和健康女性孕期Tregs中的Foxp3表达也受损，但产后恢复。哮喘孕妇的Foxp3表达水平高于健康孕妇（P = 0.007），可能是由于使用了控制药物。
哮喘得到控制的女性在孕期和产后调节性细胞亚群存在变化。在此期间，Foxp3表达和CD24HiCD38Hi Bregs观察到类似模式，证实了Tregs和Bregs在免疫反应中的相互作用。考虑到这些免疫介质的免疫调节潜力，需要更多研究来评估它们与孕期哮喘和鼻炎并发症的关系。
