The effect of spleen on the change of Treg cells during mouse pregnancy

ObjectiveTo analyze the effect of spleen on the Treg cells during pregnancy.MethodsThe mononuclear cells were separated from the peripheral, spleen and uterus or placenta blood. Flow cytometry was employed to analyze the percent of Treg cells in total T cells in different stages of pregnancy. Immunohistochemical staining was used to make sure the distribution of Treg in spleen in different stages of pregnancy.ResultsThe results of immunohistochemical staining showed that compared with spleen Treg cells in normal unpregnant mice, spleen Treg cells on day 7 and 14 of pregnancy significantly increased. After splenectomy, peripheral blood and placenta Treg cells on day 7 of pregnancy markedly decreased as compared with the normal pregnancy (P<0.01). And the cells on day 14 of pregnancy were markedly recovered as compared with the normal pregnancy.ConclusionOur study indicated that the spleen and its Treg cells might play important roles in transient tolerance during pregnancy.