Influence of atopic dermatitis on reproduction and uterine natural killer cells

J Vet Med Sci. 2014 Jun;76(6):913-6. doi: 10.1292/jvms.13-0547. Epub 2014 Feb 27.

Abstract

The causal relationship between severe allergic conditions and successful pregnancy remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate reproductive performance in an experimental mouse model of atopic disease (AD), and the appearance of uterine natural killer (uNK) cells that have crucial roles in placental formation was examined. In the NC/Nga pregnant mice with moderate skin allergic lesions and an 8.6-fold elevation of plasma IgE, significant differences were not detected in the reproductive indices of the number of normal fetuses, abortion rate and placental size. There were few uNK cells in the placenta of AD mice, and they showed a significant decrease regarding the immature subtype as compared with controls. These findings revealed that AD disturbs uNK cell differentiation and provides disadvantageous effects on placental formation, although it does not arrest the pregnancy process. It may be possible that specific immunological conditions behind AD operate favorably to recover the reproductive performance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation / immunology
  • Dermatitis, Atopic / immunology*
  • Female
  • Histological Techniques
  • Immunoglobulin E / blood*
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Placenta / cytology*
  • Placenta / immunology
  • Placentation
  • Pregnancy
  • Reproduction / immunology*
  • Uterus / cytology
  • Uterus / immunology

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin E