Fetal T cell activation in the amniotic cavity during preterm labor: A potential mechanism for a subset of idiopathic preterm birth

Nardhy Gomez-Lopez, Roberto Romero, Yi Xu, Derek Miller, Marcia Arenas-Hernandez, Valeria Garcia-Flores, Bogdan Panaitescu, Jose Galaz, Chaur Dong Hsu, Robert Para, Stanley M. Berry

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

43 Scopus citations

Abstract

Prematurity is the leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. In most cases, preterm birth is preceded by spontaneous preterm labor, a syndrome that is associated with intra-amniotic inflammation, the most studied etiology. However, the remaining etiologies of preterm labor are poorly understood; therefore, most preterm births are categorized as idiopathic. In this study, we provide evidence showing that the fetal immune system undergoes premature activation in women with preterm labor without intra-amniotic inflammation, providing a potential new mechanism of disease for some cases of idiopathic preterm birth. First, we showed that fetal T cells are a predominant leukocyte population in amniotic fluid during preterm gestations. Interestingly, only fetal CD4+ T cells were increased in amniotic fluid of women who underwent idiopathic preterm labor and birth. This increase in fetal CD4+ T cells was accompanied by elevated amniotic fluid concentrations of T cell cytokines such as IL-2, IL-4, and IL-13, which are produced by these cells upon in vitro stimulation, but was not associated with the prototypical cytokine profile observed in women with intra-amniotic inflammation. Also, we found that cord blood T cells, mainly CD4+ T cells, obtained from women with idiopathic preterm labor and birth displayed enhanced ex vivo activation, which is similar to that observed in women with intra-amniotic inflammation. Finally, we showed that the intra-amniotic administration of activated neonatal CD4+ T cells induces preterm birth in mice. Collectively, these findings provide evidence suggesting that fetal T cell activation is implicated in the pathogenesis of idiopathic preterm labor and birth.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1793-1807
Number of pages15
JournalJournal of Immunology
Volume203
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1 2019
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology

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