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Endothelial dysfunction typical of preeclampsia (PE) is the result of an excessive maternal inflammatory response to pregnancy. We investigated PTX3 in maternal, fetal and placental compartments in complicated pregnancies. Maternal blood samples were collected during the third trimester in 53 PE, 43 IUGR (intrauterine growth restriction) and 50 normal pregnancies. Fetal samples were collected from the umbilical vein in 26 PE, 23 IUGR and 26 normal pregnancies at elective cesarean section. Pattern and site of expression of PTX3 were studied by immunohistochemistry (IHC) on placenta, decidual bed and maternal peritoneum. PE and IUGR pregnancies had significantly higher maternal PTX3 levels compared to normal pregnancies, with IUGR significantly lower than PE. Maternal peritoneum expressed a significantly higher signal in the endothelium of pathological compared to normal pregnancies. The maternal increase of PTX3 correlated with the severity of disease with higher PTX3 concentrations in severe PE. Increased PTX3 levels in PE and IUGR mothers, together with IHC data represent the expression of altered endothelial function on the maternal side. IUGR fetuses had higher PTX3 values than controls and the increase was related to IUGR severity, likely reflecting the hypoxic environment. These data confirm the relevance of PTX3 in support the hypothesis that PE is a disease associated with altered maternal endothelial function. The PTX3 increase in IUGR fetuses deserves further investigation., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.) more...

Omenn syndrome (OS) is an atypical primary immunodeficiency characterized by severe autoimmunity because of activated T cells infiltrating target organs. The impaired recombinase activity in OS severely affects expression of the pre-T-cell receptor complex in immature thymocytes, which is crucial for an efficient development of the thymic epithelial component. Anti-CD3ε monoclonal antibody (mAb) treatment in RAG2(-/-) mice was previously shown to mimic pre-TCR signaling promoting thymic expansion. Here we show the effect of anti-CD3ε mAb administration in the RAG2(R229Q) mouse model, which closely recapitulates human OS. These animals, in spite of the inability to induce the autoimmune regulator, displayed a significant amelioration in thymic epithelial compartment and an important reduction of peripheral T-cell activation and tissue infiltration. Furthermore, by injecting a high number of RAG2(R229Q) progenitors into RAG2(-/-) animals previously conditioned with anti-CD3ε mAb, we detected autoimmune regulator expression together with the absence of peripheral immunopathology. These observations indicate that improving epithelial thymic function might ameliorate the detrimental behavior of the cell-autonomous RAG defect. Our data provide important therapeutic proof of concept for future clinical applications of anti-CD3ε mAb treatment in severe combined immunodeficiency forms characterized by poor thymus function and autoimmunity. more...

Successful embryonic implantation implies anchoring the conceptus in the maternal uterine wall, establishing a vascular supply to enable optimal growth and development of the conceptus, and promoting tolerance of fetal alloantigens encoded by paternal genes. To achieve these goals, complex molecular dialogues take place among the maternal endometrium, the conceptus, and the placenta. Several factors are involved in the fetal-maternal interaction, including hormones, growth factors, cytokines, chemokines, adhesion molecules, extracellular matrix components, and matrix-degrading enzymes. This complex cross-talk results in the induction of a local inflammatory response and a state of systemic inflammation, as revealed by leukocytosis, endothelium activation, increased activity of innate immune cells, and increased levels of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. The enriched cytokine milieu associated to implantation is likely to control trophoblast migration and differentiation, leukocyte influx and activation, complement activation, as well as angiogenic and angiostatic processes in the implantation site. Finally, these mediators play a key role in tuning the immune responses to protect the fetus from infections as well as from maternal rejection. Here, the role of pro-inflammatory networks activated in implantation will be discussed. In particular, emphasis will be put on two new players involved in regulating inflammation at the maternal-fetal interface: the long pentraxin PTX3 and the decoy receptor for inflammatory chemokines D6. more...