Am J Reprod Immunol 2001 Dec;46(6):405-12
Harness J, McCombe PA.
Department of Medicine, The University
of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
PROBLEM:
The present study was performed to
explore the effects of pregnancy on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
(EAE) induced in Lewis rats by inoculation with myelin basic protein (MBP)
(MBP-EAE).
METHOD OF STUDY:
MBP-EAE was induced in pregnant and
non-pregnant rats and severity of disease evaluated. Serum from pregnant
and non-pregnant rats was used in standard lymphocyte proliferation assays.
Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to investigate the expression
of cytokine mRNA in the inflammatory cells obtained from the spinal cord
of rats on day 15 after inoculation.
RESULTS:
Pregnant rats developed less severe
disease than non-pregnant rats. Serum from pregnant rats suppressed the
proliferation of T lymphocytes in response to MBP. There was significantly
increased expression of IL-4, IL-10 and TNF-alpha mRNA in the spinal cord
infiltrate of pregnant rats.
CONCLUSION:
Circulating humoral factors and alteration
in cytokine production by inflammatory cells may contribute to the suppression
of EAE in pregnant rats.