Effect of Alpha-Fetoprotein on Differentiation of Myeloid Supressor Cells

Doklady Biochemistry and Biophysics - The effect of recombinant alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) on human myeloid suppressor cell (MDSC) differentiation was studied in vitro in the presence of cytokines...     

Role of α-fetoprotein in differentiation of regulatory T lymphocytes

The effect of native α-fetoprotein (AFP) on the expression of T-regulatory lymphocyte (Treg) markers by activated CD4⁺ lymphocytes with different proliferative status was studied. α-Fetoprotein did not affect the ratio of proliferating and non-proliferating activated CD4⁺ cells. In the study of Treg differentiation, it was found that AFP at concentrations of 50 and 100 μg/mL significantly inhibited the number of nonproliferating CD4⁺FOXP3⁺ and CD4⁺FOXP3⁺HELIOS⁺ lymphocytes without affecting the expression of Treg markers by proliferating CD4⁺ lymphocytes.     

Effect of pregnancy-specific β1-glycoprotein on indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase activity in human monocytes

The role of heterogenic human pregnancy-specific glycoprotein (PSG), obtained by the authors’ technology, in the regulation of the indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) activity in female blood monocytes has been studied in vitro. PSG stimulated IDO activity under the conditions of induction of the monocytes by interferon-γ. Upon the induction of cell proliferation by lipopolysaccharides, the stimulating effect was obtained only with 10 μg/mL of PSG. Enhanced IDO activity is probably a factor of peripheral immunological tolerance and antimicrobial protection against intracellular infections in the gestation period.     

Effects of chorionic gonadotropin on peripheral monocytes vary with the phases of the menstrual cycle

The qualitative and quantitative effects of physiological concentrations of chorionic gonadotropin (CG) on monocytes of women vary with the phases of the menstrual cycle. During the follicular phase, the hormone inhibits phagocytosis; stimulates the secretion of interleukin (IL) 6 (IL-6), interferon α (IFN-α), and the protein component of apolipoprotein A1 (APO-A1); and activates myeloperoxidase (MPO). During the luteal phase, CG stimulates phagocytosis and APO-A1 secretion, inhibits MPO, and does not shift the levels of IL-6 and INF-α. Regardless of the menstrual phase, the hormone does not modify the release of elastase or the production of granulocytic colony-stimulating growth factor, IL-1α, and tumor necrosis factor α.     

Role of the pregnancy-specific glycoprotein in regulation of the cytokine and chemokine profiles of intact mononuclear cells

The effect of human pregnancy-specific glycoprotein (PSG) on the cytokine and chemokine production in vitro by intact mononuclear cells was studied by the method of flow fluorimetry. PSG inhibited production of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-8, IL-17, IFN-γ, and TNF-α and chemokines CCL3/MIP-1α, CCL4/MIP-1β, CCL2/MCP-1; at the same time, PSG stimulated IL-12(p70) production. Simultaneously with increasing the VEGF level, PSG inhibited production of IL-9, IL-13, G-CSF, and GM-CSF. The PSG effect discovered can be interpreted as a contribution into the immune tolerance formation during pregnancy.     

α-Fetoprotein Influence on the Conversion of Naïve T-Helpers into Memory T-Cell Effector Subpopulations

The effect of native α-fetoprotein (AFP) on the conversion of naïve T-helpers into central memory T-cells (TCM) and effector subpopulations of the preterminally differentiated (TEM) and terminally differentiated (TEMRA) memory T-cells was studied. AFP was found to prevent the conversion of naïve T-helpers into effector subpopulations of memory T cells (TEM and TEMRA) while reducing the total production of IL-4 and IFN-γ by the studied cell populations. The data reveal a new role of AFP in the immune tolerance formation during pregnancy.