editorial immune-endocrine cross-talk in reproductive...

EditorialImmune-Endocrine Cross-Talk in ReproductiveBiology and Pathology

António M. Galvão,1,2 Graça M. Ferreira-Dias,2 Anna CheBmonska-Soyta,3

Izabela WocBawek-Potocka,1 and Dariusz J. SkarhyNski1

1 Department of Reproductive Immunology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of PAS,10-748 Olsztyn, Poland

2Department of Morphology and Function, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, 1300-477 Lisbon, Portugal3 Laboratory of Reproductive Immunology, Department of Experimental Therapy, Institute of Immunology andExperimental Therapy of PAS, 53-114 Wroclaw, Poland

Correspondence should be addressed to Dariusz J. Skarzynski; [email protected]

Received 26 March 2014; Accepted 26 March 2014; Published 24 April 2014

Copyright © 2014 Antonio M. Galvao et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons AttributionLicense, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properlycited.

Regulation of the reproductive function in mammals is avery complex biological process, tightly coordinated by theinterplay between hypothalamic-pituitary axis and gonads. Amyriad of factors regulates both estrous cycle and pregnancy,through the in situ activation of molecular pathways thatcoordinate subsequent cellular changes. As a result, morpho-logic and functional changes in reproductive organs ensurethe adequate environment for fertilization and pregnancyestablishment. Immune system and local immune regula-tions earn a prominent role in the coordination of thoseprocesses. Indeed, the immune-endocrine cross talk regulatesseveral functions at the ovary, such as ovulation, lutealgrowth/regression, and at the oviduct it ensures fertilization.Besides, it enables maternal recognition of pregnancy insome species, as well as early embryo development andimplantation in the uterus. The nature of the links andconsequences of mutual interactions between the immunesystem and physiologic and/or pathologic processes duringpregnancy are complex and still not well recognized. Aproper fetomaternal immune-endocrine cross-talk duringearly pregnancy is fundamental for reproductive success.Thesubject is vastly discussed in this special issue.

Lipids are determinant for reproduction. I. Wocławek-Potocka and collaborators review the recent progresses inlysophosphatidic acid (LPA) signaling research relevant tohuman and ruminant reproduction, aiming at the cow as

relevant model to study LPA influence on human reproduc-tive performance. E. G. Prates and coauthors characterize thecurrent knowledge on lipids and fatty acidmetabolismduringoocyte maturation and their implications on fertilization andembryo development, especially in the pig. Specifically, thepossibility of using chemical molecules to modulate the lipidcontent of oocytes and embryos to improve cryopreservation,as well as their biological effects during different developmentstages, is debated.

A. Rapacz-Leonard and coauthors revisit the role ofthe immune system in fetal-maternal cross-talk in humans,cattle, and horses. This review examines physiologic aspectsof pregnancy, pathological pregnancy, and parturition. It issuggested that, in horses and cows, the expression of paternalantigens by invading trophoblast cells may modulate thematernal immune system and prepare it for rapid rejection offetal membranes at parturition. Another study from T. Majand coworkers address the regulation of peripheral toleranceofmaternal immune systemduring pregnancy establishment.An antigen presentation effectiveness of splenic antigenpresenting cells (APCs) derived from pregnant andpseudopregnant mice in in vitro conditions was assessed.They showed that CD80 and CD86 costimulatory moleculesregulate CD4+, T lymphocyte proliferation, and cytokineresponse in cocultures with antigen-presenting cells derivedfrom pregnant or pseudopregnant mice. Nevertheless,

Hindawi Publishing CorporationMediators of InflammationVolume 2014, Article ID 856465, 2 pageshttp://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/856465

2 Mediators of Inflammation

the implications of these changes await further investigation.Finally, immunosuppressive M2-like activities ofmacrophages at the fetal-maternal interface are requiredfor the maintenance of immunological homeostasis duringpregnancy. The findings of D. Rami et al. strengthen the keyrole of macrophages in counteracting inflammatory stimuliduring pregnancy, suggesting procalcitonin as a possible newmarker of M1-like macrophages.

Three studies address placenta secretory activity. C. Man-nelli et al. showed that human endometrial cells can retainbisphenol, thus reducing the availability of this chemicalfor the placenta. They highlight the importance of in vitromodels in reproducing the effect of environmental chemicalson complex systems, such as the fetomaternal interface. Thecapacity of feline placenta to synthesize prostaglandin F2𝛼in a time-dependent manner and the specific enzymaticpathways were reported by M. J. Siemieniuch et al. Inthe study of Siwetz and collaborators was demonstratedthat human placenta is a source of fractalkine, which isexpressed in the syncytiotrophoblast, and can be releasedinto thematernal circulation by constitutivemetalloprotease-dependent shedding.

A study in rats determined the effect of azithromycinon LPS-induced pregnancy loss. A. Er concluded thatazithromycin may be useful for the treatment of infection-or endotoxemia-dependent pregnancy loss.

One manuscript deals with the functional link betweeninterleukins and ovarian steroids on the stimulation ofprostaglandins production by endometrial cells from mares.The article by A. Z. Szostek and collaborators suggests thatthis interaction could be one of the mechanisms responsiblefor local orchestrating events in the mare endometriumduring the estrous cycle and early pregnancy includingimplantation.

The manuscript by E. Aliagas et al. addresses the expres-sion of ectonucleotidasesCD39 andCD73 in human endome-trial cancer, namely, type I endometrioid adenocarcinomasand type II serous adenocarcinomas. This study strengthensthe involvement of the adenosinergic system in cancer,emphasizing the relevance of ectonucleotidases as emergingtherapeutic targets in oncology.

The ability of proinflammatory cytokines and endotoxinsin circulation to affect LH secretion from the pituitary isdemonstrated in vivo in ewes by K. Haziak et al.

Y. Fan and coauthors tested the hypothesis that intrapro-static 5𝛼-dihydrotestosterone exerts an effect on T-cellrecruitment by benign prostatic hyperplasia epithelial cells.This study shows that intraprostatic 5𝛼-dihydrotestosteronemight regulate the inflammatory response induced by humanprostatic epithelial cell, via modulation of chemokine (C-Cmotif) ligand 5 secretion.

Gathering together the present original manuscripts, wedo hope to give a fruitful contribution for the knowledgeof immune-endocrine interactions regulating reproductivefunction anddysfunctions in females andmales.Understand-ing the complexity ofmolecular and cellular pathways linkinginflammation to vascular and nonvascular tissue remodeling,secretory function and dysfunction in reproductive organsare vital. Contributing for the identification of potential

molecular targets for future pharmacological interventions inprevention and treatment of infertility is an asset.

Antonio M. GalvaoGraca M. Ferreira-Dias

Anna Chełmonska-SoytaIzabela Wocławek-Potocka

Dariusz J. Skarzynski

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