Journal: Frontiers in Immunology

Article Title: Disruption of Glucocorticoid Action on CD11c + Dendritic Cells Favors the Generation of CD4 + Regulatory T Cells and Improves Fetal Development in Mice

doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.729742

Figure Lengend Snippet: Impaired Glucocorticoid-Responsiveness of CD11c + dendritic cells improves placenta function. WT and GRnegCD11c female mice were allogenically mated and placentas harvested on gestation day (gd) 13.5 were evaluated by Masson-Goldner trichrome staining allowing the differentiation of the labyrinth and junctional zone. Total placenta area (A) , area of the labyrinth (B) and the junctional zone (C) have been assessed and the placental ratio (D, labyrinth/junctional zone) was calculated. (E) Representative photomicrographs illustrating mid-sagittal sections of gd 13.5 placental tissue from WT (top) and GRnegCD11c (bottom) mothers, black line in the picture denotes 1mm, blue lines encircle the labyrinth, green lines surround the junctional zone. (F) Plasma progesterone levels of WT and GRnegCD11c female mice on gd 13.5 as analyzed by ELISA. Scatter-bar-plots represent mean ± SEM, Student’s t test, *p ≤ 0.05. Each dot in the scatter plot represents a single placenta (A–D) or a single animal (F) , respectively. (G) Heatmap summarizing the placental expression of insulin like growth factor 1 (Igf1), hydroxysteroid 11-beta dehydrogenase 1 and (Hsd11b1 and 2), placental growth factor (Pgf), epidermal growth factor (Egf), vascular endothelial growth factor A (Vegfa), B cell leukemia/lymphoma 2 (Bcl2), soluble FMS-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt1), heme oxygenase 1 (Hmox1), Galectin-1 (Gal-1), and placental lactogen II (Prl3b1) calculated by qPCR from gd 13.5 placentas. The fold change over WT control expression was calculated using RNA polymerase II subunit A (Polr2a) and ubiquitin C (Ubc) as endogenous control and employing the δδCt method.

Article Snippet: Gene expression analyses of placental tissue were carried out using gene expression assays (Applied Biosystems by Thermo Fisher) for the following targets: insulin like growth factor 1 ( Igf1 , Mm00439560_m1), hydroxysteroid 11-beta dehydrogenase ( Hsd11b ) 1 and 2 (Mm00476182_m1 and Mm01251104_m1), placental growth factor ( Pgf , Mm00435613_m1), epidermal growth factor ( Egf , Mm00438696_m1), vascular endothelial growth factor A ( Vegf , Mm00437306_m1), B cell leukemia/lymphoma 2 ( Bcl2 , Mm00477631_m1) and soluble FMS-like tyrosine kinase 1 ( sFlt1 , Mm00438980_m1), heme oxygenase 1 ( Hmox1 , Mm00516005_m1), galectin-1 ( Gal-1 , Mm00839408_g1), and placental lactogen II ( Prl3b1 , Mm00435852_m1).

Techniques: Staining, Clinical Proteomics, Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay, Expressing, Control, Ubiquitin Proteomics