Uterine Regulatory T cells, IL-10 and hypertension.

PROBLEM: Regulatory T cells (T(reg) ) are a vital immune cellular population at the maternal-fetal interface. They are likely to aid in immune tolerance by dampening the harmful effects of other immune cellular populations through cell-cell-mediated interactions as well as by producing IL-10 and TGF-β. In addition to the anti-inflammatory properties, IL-10 has emerged as an important vascular cytokine choreographing endovascular interactions and angiogenesis and regulates hypertension.

METHOD OF STUDY: Review of innovative concepts to understand the temporal role of T(regs) in both mouse and human pregnancy, particularly whether uterine T(reg) play a potential role in regulating vascular homeostasis and blood flow during pregnancy.

RESULTS

T(reg) guard immune tolerance, getting cytotoxically activated under certain conditions, leading to adverse pregnancy outcome.

CONCLUSION

Despite increasing evidence of T(reg) tissue-specific expansion and functional plasticity, their role in vascular activity, pre-eclampsia or gestational diabetes is obscure and needs closer investigation to delineate its role later during pregnancy.