IL-10 regulate decidual Tregs apoptosis contributing to the abnormal pregnancy with Toxoplasma gondii infection

• Worse pregnancy outcomes were observed in infected IL-10−/− mice than infected mice.
• Cleaved Caspase-3 and Caspase-8 levels in Tregs increased with Toxoplasma gondii infection.
• IL-10 regulated Caspase-3 and Caspase-8 levels in Tregs with Toxoplasma gondii infection.

This study aims to investigate whether IL-10 regulate decidual Treg cells apoptosis to reverse the abnormal pregnancy outcomes with Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection. Recombinant mouse IL-10 (rIL-10) treatment and IL-10 deficiency (IL-10−/−) abnormal pregnancy animal models with T. gondii infection were established. Apoptosis related molecules cleaved Caspase-3 and Caspase-8 in decidual Treg cells were examined using flow cytometry. The levels of cleaved Caspase-3 and Caspase-8 in decidual Treg cells were up-regulated with T. gondii infection. Compared to infected group, the expressions of cleaved Caspase-3 and Caspase-8 in decidual Treg cells were down-regulated in rIL-10-treated group, while up-regulated in infected IL-10−/− group. In addition, pregnant outcomes were improved in rIL-10-treated group, while worse in IL-10−/− group compared to infected group. These findings revealed that IL-10 reduced the decidual Treg cells apoptosis contributing to improving adverse pregnant outcomes following T. gondii infection.