Preconception immunization can modulate intracellular Th2 cytokine profile in offspring: in vivo influence of interleukin 10 and B/T cell collaboration.

Introduction: In the last few years our group has been studying the mechanisms involved in the inhibition of allergy in offspring mediated by preconception maternal immunization, but these mechanisms are not fully understood. Such mechanisms that we have studied aimed at the passive transfer of maternal antibodies and its influence on offspring immune status. Aim of the study: To evaluate whether maternal immunization could modulate intracellular Thl/ Th2 profiles in offspring. Material and methods: C57BL/6 female wild type mice (WT), interleukin (IL)-10(-/-)or CD28(-/-) mice were immunized or not with ovalbumin (OVA) and were mated with respective lineage males and offspring were evaluated at 3 days old (d.o.), 20 d.o., or 20 d.o. after neonatal immunization. Results: Preconception OVA immunization induced a marked reduction in IL-4 secretion by TCD4+ cells of WT offspring when compared with offspring from non-immunized mothers. The maternal immunization of IL-10(-/- )mice induced an increase in the TCD4+IL-4+ percentage in offspring and a reduction in TCD4+IFN-gamma+ cells. The maternal immunization in CD28(-/-) mice induced augment IL-4 intensity in 3 and 20 d.o. offspring TCD4+ cells. Conclusions: Our results reveal that maternal immunization with OVA can down-regulate the Th2 pattern in offspring and this regulation is dependent on IL-10 and B/T cell collaboration.