Direct and Indirect endocrine-mediated suppression of human endometrial CD8+ T cell cytotoxicity

Z Shen, M Rodriguez-Garcia, MV Patel, CR Wira - Scientific Reports, 2021 - nature.com
Z Shen, M Rodriguez-Garcia, MV Patel, CR Wira
Scientific Reports, 2021nature.com
Regulation of endometrial (EM) CD8+ T cells is essential for successful reproduction and
protection against pathogens. Suppression of CD8+ T cells is necessary for a tolerogenic
environment that promotes implantation and pregnancy. However, the mechanisms
regulating this process remain unclear. Sex hormones are known to control immune
responses directly on immune cells and indirectly through the tissue environment. When the
actions of estradiol (E2), progesterone (P) and TGFβ on EM CD8+ T cells were evaluated …
Abstract
Regulation of endometrial (EM) CD8+T cells is essential for successful reproduction and protection against pathogens. Suppression of CD8+T cells is necessary for a tolerogenic environment that promotes implantation and pregnancy. However, the mechanisms regulating this process remain unclear. Sex hormones are known to control immune responses directly on immune cells and indirectly through the tissue environment. When the actions of estradiol (E2), progesterone (P) and TGFβ on EM CD8+T cells were evaluated, cytotoxic activity, perforin and granzymes were directly suppressed by E2 and TGFβ but not P. Moreover, incubation of polarized EM epithelial cells with P, but not E2, increased TGFβ secretion. These findings suggest that E2 acts directly on CD8+T cell to suppress cytotoxic activity while P acts indirectly through induction of TGFβ production. Understanding the mechanisms involved in regulating endometrial CD8+T cells is essential for optimizing reproductive success and developing protective strategies against genital infections and gynecological cancers.
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