Characterization of the Th Profile of the Bovine Endometrium during the Oestrous Cycle and Early Pregnancy.docVIP

Characterization of the Th Profile of the Bovine Endometrium during the Oestrous Cycle and Early Pregnancy Lilian J. Oliveira , Nadéra Mansourri-Attia , Alan G. Fahey , John Browne , Niamh Forde , James F. 1 2¤a 2 2 2 Roche , Patrick Lonergan , Trudee Fair 2 2 2* 1 Faculty of Food Engineering and Animal Sciences, University of S?o Paulo, S?o Paulo, Brazil, 2 School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland Abstract Despite extensive research in the area of cow fertility, the extent to which the maternal immune system is modulated during pregnancy in cattle remains unclear. Therefore, the objective of the current study was to characterize the presence and response profile of B, T-helper (LTh), T- cytotoxic (LTc), gamma delta-T (γδT) and natural killer (NK) lymphocytes in terms of cell number, distribution and cytokine expression in bovine endometrial tissue to pregnancy. Endometrial tissue samples were collected from beef heifers on Days 5, 7, 13 and 16 of the estrous cycle or pregnancy. Samples were analysed by immunofluorescence to identify the presence and abundance of B-B7 (B- cells), CD4 (LTh), CD8 (LTc), γδT cell receptor (TCR) and CD335/NKp46 (NK cells) -positive immune cells. Quantitative real time PCR (QPCR) was carried out to analyse mRNA relative abundance of FOXP3 (a marker of regulatory T (Treg) cells) and a panel of immune factors, including MHC-I, LIF, Interleukins 1, 2, 6, 8, 10, 11,12A, IFNa and IFNG. Results indicate that B-B7+ cells are quite populous in bovine endometrial tissue, CD4+ and CD8+ - cells are present in moderate numbers and γδTCR+ and CD335+ ce