Phenotypic and functional evaluation of Regulatory T cells in gestational obesity

• Grant number: 19/26928-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2020
• End date: December 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Applied Immunology
• Principal Investigator: Maria Notomi Sato
• Grantee: Emily Araujo de Oliveira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

During the gestational period several regulatory mechanisms are operative to maintain a homeostatic environment and to allow fetal development. In this context, regulatory T lymphocytes (Tregs) are essential for tolerance, avoiding the exacerbation of both placental and systemic inflammatory reactions. Some gestational complications, such as bacterial and viral infections, have been shown to reduce numerically and functionally the Tregs, which may lead to preterm birth and abortion. In obesity, a chronic low-grade inflammatory disease, there is a dysfunction of this cell type, leading to increased susceptibility to infections and compromised immune response. However, the role of Tregs in gestational obesity is not yet determined. This project aims to evaluate gestational obesity in mice regarding the phenotypic and functional characteristics of maternal and fetal Tregs. To this end, C57BL/6 Foxp3-GFP female mice will be induced to obesity by hypercaloric diet, monitored by weight, blood glucose and cholesterol and then mated. Tregs cells of placenta, spleen and adipose tissue of pregnant obese mice and spleen Tregs of their neonates will be evaluated. Treg cell subtypes will be evaluated for transcription factors (Foxp3, T-bet, GATA3, RORg-t) by flow cytometry and serum adipokine, leptin and cytokines IL-10 and TGF-b levels. The expression profile of Foxp3, IL-10, TGF-b, TNF and IL-1b will be evaluated by real time PCR in the placental tissue. The functional capacity of Tregs will be evaluated by cell suppression assay. The development of this project may help to understand the regulatory mechanisms in the maternal-fetal interface mediated by Tregs cells in metabolic complications such as gestational obesity and its impact on neonates.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

GOZZI-SILVA, SARAH CRISTINA; BENARD, GIL; ALBERCA, RICARDO WESLEY; YENDO, TATIANA MINA; EMIDIO TEIXEIRA, FRANCIANE MOURADIAN; OLIVEIRA, LUANA DE MENDONCA; BESERRA, DANIELLE ROSA; PIETROBON, ANNA JULIA; DE OLIVEIRA, EMILY ARAUJO; CALVIELLI CASTELO BRANCO, ANNA CLAUDIA; et al. SARS-CoV-2 Infection and CMV Dissemination in Transplant Recipients as a Treatment for Chagas Cardiomyopathy: A Case Report. TROPICAL MEDICINE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE, v. 6, n. 1, MAR 2021. (18/18230-6, 17/18199-9, 19/02679-7, 19/26928-6, 19/22448-0)

BRANCO, ANNA CLAUDIA CALVIELLI CASTELO; DE OLIVEIRA, EMILY ARAUJO; PEREIRA, NATALLI ZANETE; ALBERCA, RICARDO WESLEY; DUARTE-NETO, AMARO NUNES; DA SILVA, LUIZ FERNANDO FERRAZ; LUIZ, FERNANDA GUEDES; PEREIRA, NAIURA VIEIRA; SOTTO, MIRIAN NACAGAMI; DEJANI, NAIARA NAIANA; et al. Obesity Induces an Impaired Placental Antiviral Immune Response in Pregnant Women Infected with Zika Virus. Viruses-Basel, v. 15, n. 2, p. 15-pg., 2023-02-01. (15/03333-6, 19/26928-6, 19/25119-7, 17/07143-2)

ALBERCA, RICARDO WESLEY; DE SOUZA ANDRADE, MILENA MARY; CALVIELLI CASTELO BRANCO, ANNA CLAUDIA; PIETROBON, ANNA JULIA; PEREIRA, NATALLI ZANETE; FERNANDES, IARA GRIGOLETTO; OLIVEIRA, LUANA DE MENDONCA; EMIDIO TEIXEIRA, FRANCIANE MOURADIAN; BESERRA, DANIELLE ROSA; DE OLIVEIRA, EMILY ARAUJO; et al. Frequencies of CD33+CD11b+HLA-DR-CD14-CD66b+and CD33+CD11b+HLA-DR-CD14+CD66b-Cells in Peripheral Blood as Severity Immune Biomarkers in COVID-19. FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE, v. 7, OCT 14 2020. (19/02679-7, 17/18199-9, 19/26928-6, 18/18230-6, 19/22448-0)