OD0927 - Experimental Maternal Cytokine Prophylaxis Protects from Fetal Neural Tube Teratogenesis Through an NK Cell Mediated Mechanism

Introduction: It has been postulated that the maternal immune system is capable of providing surveillance for early fetal teratogenic events. However, very little information exists regarding the types of maternal immune cells or cell signaling mechanisms that are needed for fetal protection. Given the abundance of NK cells at the maternal-fetal interface, we hypothesized that augmentation of maternal NK cell function provides protection against fetal teratogenesis.

Methods: We challenged this hypothesis in a murine model of valproic acid (VA)-induced fetal neural tube teratogenesis (NTT) in pregnant dams at E8. To evaluate protection from NTT’s, maternal NK cells were either selectively eliminated (mAb PK136) or functionally augmented (IFNg) prior to VA administration (E7). All litters were harvested on E14 and prevalence of NTT compared between each treatment group and untreated controls. The experiments were performed in a CD1 (outbred) model. Blood samples were taken from all dams prior to mating, prior to VA injection (E7) and at harvest (E14). Flow cytometry was performed on these samples examining NK cell, T-cell, B-cell and Monocyte levels.

Results: We found that all of the NK cell-depleted litters were affected by fetal NTT. This was significantly higher when compared to litters of saline-treated age-matched control dams (100% vs 83.8%; p<0.05). Conversely, IFNg-augmented litters were less likely to be affected by NTT (CD1 = 66.7%; p<0.05). Animals given IFNg alone had no NTT and normal litter sizes. Dams given IFNg, PK136 and VA behaved similarly to animals given PK136 and VA alone with 100% of litters affected by NTT.

Conclusion: Maternal cytokine prophylaxis provides protection from NTTs and may be a clinically relevant strategy. This protection appears to be mediated specifically by maternal NK cells. Further studies are needed to define the mechanisms by which maternal NK cells recognize and prevent aberrant fetal development.

Presenting Author(s)

Katherine C. Ott

Research Fellow
Center for Fetal Cellular and Molecular Therapy, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital
Chicago, Illinois
Disclosure: No Financial Relationships Disclosed

Co-Author(s)

OM

Oria Marc

Research Associate
Center for Fetal and Placental Research, Division of Pediatric Surgery, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Cincinnati, Ohio
Disclosure: No Financial Relationships Disclosed
CR

Catherine Redden

Research Assistant
Center for Fetal Cellular and Molecular Therapy, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, Department of Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Chicago, Illinois
Disclosure: No Financial Relationships Disclosed
HK

Hee Kap Kang

Research Associate
Center for Fetal Cellular and Molecular Therapy, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, Department of Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Chicago, Illinois
Disclosure: No Financial Relationships Disclosed
LT

Lucas Turner

Research Associate
Center for Fetal Cellular and Molecular Therapy, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, Department of Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Chicago, Illinois
Disclosure: No Financial Relationships Disclosed
AA

Amir Alhajjat

Attending Physician, Pediatric Surgeon
Center for Fetal Cellular and Molecular Therapy, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, Department of Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Chicago, Illinois
Disclosure: No Financial Relationships Disclosed
SD

Soner Duru

Attending Physician
Center for Fetal and Placental Research, Division of Pediatric Surgery, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
Cincinnati, Ohio
Disclosure: No Financial Relationships Disclosed
JP

Jose Peiro

Attending Physician
Center for Fetal and Placental Research, Division of Pediatric Surgery, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
Cincinatti, Ohio
Disclosure: No Financial Relationships Disclosed

Senior Author(s)

AS

Aimen Shaaban

Attending Physician, Pediatric Surgeon, Fetal Surgeon Director
Center for Fetal Cellular and Molecular Therapy, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, Department of Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
chicago, Illinois
Disclosure: No Financial Relationships Disclosed