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Changes in Fetal Thymic Immune Cell Populations in a Sheep Model of Intrauterine Inflammation

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Abstract

Intrauterine inflammation is a common antecedent of preterm birth and can alter the development of the fetal thymus, the site of development, and maturation of T lymphocytes. The effects of intrauterine inflammation on specific thymic T lymphocyte populations are largely unknown. We hypothesized that intrauterine inflammation would alter fetal thymic T cell populations. Immunohistochemistry was used to quantitate the relative proportions of thymic cortical and medullary cell populations in fetal sheep 7 days after intra-amniotic lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection. The proportions of CD8+and MHC II+ cells in the fetal thymus were reduced in response to LPS. The ratio of CD4:CD8 cells was increased by LPS exposure. No changes were observed in the percentage of CD4+, γδ(WC1)+, CD45R+B cells, or CD44+ cells. These studies indicate that intrauterine inflammation impacts thymic composition of CD8 T cells and the development and/or activation of CD4 T cells in the fetal thymus.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Ritchie Centre, Monash Institute of Medical Research, Monash University, PO Box 5418, Clayton, 3168, Victoria, Australia

    Jacqueline M. Melville BSc, Alana J. Westover BA/BSc & Timothy J. M. Moss PhD

  2. Biotechnology Research Laboratories, Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia

    Robert J. Bischof PhD & Els N. Meeusen PhD

  3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia

    Timothy J. M. Moss PhD

Authors
  1. Jacqueline M. Melville BSc
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  2. Robert J. Bischof PhD
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  3. Els N. Meeusen PhD
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  4. Alana J. Westover BA/BSc
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  5. Timothy J. M. Moss PhD
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Correspondence to Jacqueline M. Melville BSc.

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Melville, J.M., Bischof, R.J., Meeusen, E.N. et al. Changes in Fetal Thymic Immune Cell Populations in a Sheep Model of Intrauterine Inflammation. Reprod. Sci. 19, 740–747 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1177/1933719111432873

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