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IFN-γ and IL-10: seric and placental profile during pig gestation Seric and placental cytokines in pig gestation

Abstract

Concentration of interferon-gamma and interleukin-10 in maternal serum and in maternal and fetal porcine placental extracts from different gestation periods was determined. Crossbred pigs’ placental samples of 17, 30, 60, 70, and 114 days gestation and non-pregnant uteri were used. Interferon-gamma concentration was increased at the placental interface at 17 days, in maternal and fetal placenta, and decreased significantly in the remaining gestation periods. Interferon-gamma showed a peak in serum at 60 days. Regarding interleukin-10, placental tissue concentrations were unaltered, there were no significant differences with non-gestating uteri samples. In serum interleukin-10 increased at 17, 60, and 114 days gestation. At 17 days there are uterus structural and molecular changes that allow the embryos implantation and placenta development. The presence of interferon-gamma found at this moment in the interface would favor that placental growth. Moreover, its significant increase in serum at 60 days, would generate a proinflammatory cytokine pattern that facility the placental remodeling characteristic of this moment of porcine gestation. On the other hand, a significant interleukin-10 increase in serum at 17, 60 and 114 days could indicate its immunoregulatory role at a systemic level during pig gestation.

Key words
Cytokines; immunology; pig placenta; pig reproduction

INTRODUCTION

Porcine conceptus loss is more numerous than in other farm animals, as a negative consequence of poly-implantation in this species. There are abundant studies that analyze peri-implant embryonic losses that occur between 10 and 30 days gestation (dg) and that represent the loss of about 30% of the conceptus in this species (Stroband & Van der Lende 1990STROBAND HW & VAN DER LENDE T. 1990. Embryonic and uterine development during early pregnancy in pigs. J Reprod Fertil Suppl 40: 261-277. Retrieved from http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-0025059252&partnerID=tZOtx3y1., Geisert & Schmitt 2002GEISERT RD & SCHMITT RAM. 2002. Early embryonic survival in the pig : Can it be improved? J Anim Sci 80(1): 54-65., Ross et al. 2009ROSS JW, ASHWORTH MD, STEIN DR, COUTURE OP, TUGGLE CK & GEISERT RD. 2009. Identification of differential gene expression during porcine conceptus rapid trophoblastic elongation and attachment to uterine luminal epithelium. Physiol Genomics 36: 140-148. https://doi.org/10.1152/physiolgenomics.00022.2008.
https://doi.org/10.1152/physiolgenomics....
, Edwards et al. 2012EDWARDS A, WESSELS J, KERR A & TAYADE C. 2012. An overview of molecular and cellular mechanisms associated with porcine pregnancy success or failure. Reprod Domest Anim 47(Suppl.4): 394-401. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0531.2012.02103.x.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0531.2012...
, Bazer & Johnson 2014BAZER FW & JOHNSON GA. 2014. Pig blastocyst - uterine interactions. Differentiation 87(1-2): 52-65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.diff.2013.11.005.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.diff.2013.11.0...
). However, there is another period, between 50 and 70 dg, when 10- 15% of the conceptus that gets lost and that has not been so studied (Wessels et al. 2007WESSELS JM, LINTON NF, CROY BA & TAYADE C. 2007. A Review of Molecular Contrasts Between Arresting and Viable Porcine Attachment Sites. Am J Reprod Immunol 58(6): 470-480. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0897.2007.00534.x.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0897.2007...
). Although this loss has been attributed to competition for space in the uterus and some authors consider this can be related to endometrial remodeling processes (Vallet et al. 2013VALLET JL, MCNEEL AK, JOHNSON G & BAZER FW. 2013. Triennial Reproduction Symposium: Limitations in uterine and conceptus physiology that lead to fetal losses. Semin Reprod Med 91(7): 3030-3040. https://doi.org/10.2527/jas.2012-6138.
https://doi.org/10.2527/jas.2012-6138...
). Specifically, at 60 dg, period in which the size of the fetuses is increased, the presence of numerous cells with phagocytic apoptotic bodies in the stroma has been observed (Cristofolini et al. 2013CRISTOFOLINI A, SANCHIS G, MOLIVA M, ALONSO L, CHANIQUE A, KONCURAT M & MERKIS C. 2013. Cellular remodelling by apoptosis during porcine placentation. Reprod Domest Anim 48(4): 584-590. https://doi.org/10.1111/rda.12130.
https://doi.org/10.1111/rda.12130...
). Also at 70 dg the expression of some adhesion molecules is minor (Vélez et al. 2018). At 90 dg, an increase in vascular apoptosis related with a vascular remodelation was observed (Sanchis et al. 2017SANCHIS EG, CRISTOFOLINI AL, FIORIMANTI MR, BARBEITO CG & MERKIS CI. 2017. Apoptosis and cell proliferation in porcine placental vascularization. Anim Reprod Sci 184(July): 20-28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2017.06.009.). On the other hand, angiogenesis is fundamental for fetal survival in late porcine pregnancy (Stenhouse et al. 2019STENHOUSE C, HOGG CO & ASHWORTH CJ. 2019. Associations between fetal size, sex and placental angiogenesis in the pig. Biol Reprod 100(1): 239-252. https://doi.org/10.1093/biolre/ioy184.
https://doi.org/10.1093/biolre/ioy184...
) and the expression of the angiogenic factor VEGFA (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) is increased from 70 dg (Fiorimanti et al. 2018FIORIMANTI MR, RABAGLINO MB, CRISTOFOLINI AL & MERKIS CI. 2018. Immunohistochemical determination of Ang-1, Ang-2 and Tie-2 in placentas of sows at 30, 60 and 114 days of gestation and validation through a bioinformatic approach. Anim Reprod Sci 195(February): 242-250. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2018.06.001.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.20...
).

The relationship between the early loss of pig pregnancy and the action of different cytokines has been studied in depth in the peri-implantation loss. Thus it was shown that between days 15 and 23 of gestation, the expression of proinflammatory cytokines (Th1) such as interferon gamma (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor alfa (TNF-α) and interleukin 1 (IL-1) is increased in biopsies from conceptus with embryonic death (Tayade et al. 2006TAYADE C, BLACK GP, FANG Y & CROY BA. 2006. Differential Gene Expression in Endometrium, Endometrial Lymphocytes, and Trophoblasts during Successful and Abortive Embryo Implantation. J Immunol 176(1): 148-156.), these changes were not found in conceptus of 50 dg (Murphy et al. 2009MURPHY SP, TAYADE C, ASHKAR A, HATTA K, ZHANG J & CROY BA. 2009. Interferon gamma in successful pregnancies. Biol Reprod 80(5): 848-859. https://doi.org/10.1095/biolreprod.108.073353.
https://doi.org/10.1095/biolreprod.108.0...
). In a previous report, we analyze the concentration of IL-1β (Th1 cytokine), IL-2 (Th1 cytokine) and IL-4 (anti-inflammatory Th2 cytokine) in serum, fetal placenta and maternal placenta during gestation, and we found an increase of both types of cytokines in the placental tissue at 70 dg (Vélez et al. 2019VÉLEZ C, CLAUZURE M, WILLIAMSON D, KONCURAT M, SANTA-COLOMA T & BARBEITO C. 2019. IL-1β, IL-2 and IL-4 concentration during porcine gestation. Theriogenology 128: 133-139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2019.01.017.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology...
). These results seem to corroborate the importance of this point during pig gestation.

IFN-γ is a Th1 cytokine produced mainly by stimulated lymphocytes, in the case of pigs is also synthesized in trophoblast cells (Tayade et al. 2006TAYADE C, BLACK GP, FANG Y & CROY BA. 2006. Differential Gene Expression in Endometrium, Endometrial Lymphocytes, and Trophoblasts during Successful and Abortive Embryo Implantation. J Immunol 176(1): 148-156.). This cytokine has been associated with embryonic and fetal death in various species (Casazza & Lazear 2019CASAZZA RL & LAZEAR HM. 2019. Why Is IFN-λ Less Inflammatory? One IRF Decides. Immunity 51(3): 415-417. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.immuni.2019.08.019.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.immuni.2019.08...
). However, it has also been demonstrated that IFN-γ is necessary for normal implantation in humans (Murphy et al. 2009MURPHY SP, TAYADE C, ASHKAR A, HATTA K, ZHANG J & CROY BA. 2009. Interferon gamma in successful pregnancies. Biol Reprod 80(5): 848-859. https://doi.org/10.1095/biolreprod.108.073353.
https://doi.org/10.1095/biolreprod.108.0...
) and it has an angiogenic role in the pig placenta (Tayade et al. 2007TAYADE C, FANG Y, HILCHIE D & CROY BA. 2007. Lymphocyte contributions to altered endometrial angiogenesis during early and midgestation fetal loss. J Leukoc Biol 82(4): 877-886. https://doi.org/10.1189/jlb.0507330.
https://doi.org/10.1189/jlb.0507330...
). We did not find reports about the presence of this cytokine after 50 dg in pigs.

IL-10 is a cytokine produced by the Th2 subgroup of CD4+ helper cells. It is also produced by some activated B cells and by some non-lymphocytic cells such as activated macrophages, keratinocytes and trophoblasts (Roth et al. 1996ROTH I, CORRY DB, LOCKSLEY RM, ABRAMS JS, LITTON MJ & FISHER SJ. 1996. Human placental cytotrophoblasts produce the immunosuppressive cytokine interleukin 10. J Exp Med 184(2): 539-548. https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.184.2.539.
https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.184.2.539...
). The two main activities of IL-10 are to inhibit the production of cytokines by macrophages (TNF, IL-1 and IL-2) and to inhibit the accessory functions of macrophages in T cell activation. Besides, IL-10 has stimulatory actions on B cells (Walter 2014WALTER MR. 2014. Interleukin-10 in Health and Disease. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 380: 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-43492-5.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-43492-...
). In human and murine studies, during pregnancy, the cellular source of IL-10 was assumed to be T lymphocytes or trophoblast. However, in mice, a subpopulation of B cells, regulatory B10 cells, are presented as an important source of IL-10 (Bommer et al. 2016BOMMER I, MUZZIO DO, ZYGMUNT M & JENSEN F. 2016. Progesterone and estradiol exert an inhibitory effect on the production of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 by activated MZ B cells. J Reprod Immunol 116: 113-116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jri.2016.05.008.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jri.2016.05.00...
, Dilillo et al. 2010DILILLO DJ, MATSUSHITA T & TEDDER TF. 2010. B10 cells and regulatory B cells balance immune responses during inflammation, autoimmunity, and cancer. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1183: 38-57. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.05137.x.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009...
). The main function of the IL-10 produced by these B10 cells is to be able to maintain the fine immune balance required in pregnancy to generate the tolerance of the fetal allograft. It has been shown that IL-10 produced by B10 cells keeps dendritic cells in a state of immaturity, inhibiting their ability to present antigens and the consequent activation of T cells (Jensen et al. 2013JENSEN F, MUZZIO D, SOLDATI R, FEST S & ZENCLUSSEN AC. 2013. Regulatory B10 Cells Restore Pregnancy Tolerance in a Mouse Model1. Biol Reprod 89(4): 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1095/biolreprod.113.110791.
https://doi.org/10.1095/biolreprod.113.1...
). In pigs, the expression of IL10 mRNA was determinate in the initial (Choi et al. 2018CHOI SP, CHOI YC, YANG J, CHOI CY, LEE CH, KANG J & CHUN T. 2018. Monitoring mRNA transcription of genes involved in early pregnancy from endometrium and peripheral blood mononuclear cells of pregnant pigs with different parity. Reprod Domest Anim 53(6): 1594-1599. https://doi.org/10.1111/rda.13278.
https://doi.org/10.1111/rda.13278...
) and term placenta (Zhou et al. 2019ZHOU Y, XU T, WU Y, WEI H & PENG J. 2019. Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Sows with Excess Backfat: Up-Regulated Cytokine Expression and Elevated Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Placenta. Animals 9(10): 796. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9100796.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9100796...
), but this cytokine was not studied along the porcine gestation.

In the last decade the classic Th1/Th2 paradigm was extended taking into account the importance of other cytokines and cells and replaced by a Th1/Th2/Th17 and regulatory T-cell paradigm (Polese et al. 2014POLESE B, GRIDELET V, ARAKLIOTI E, MARTENS H, PERRIER D’HAUTERIVE S & GEENEN V. 2014. The Endocrine Milieu and CD4 T-Lymphocyte Polarization during Pregnancy. Front Endocrinol 5: 106. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2014.00106.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2014.00106...
, Saito et al. 2010SAITO S, NAKASHIMA A, SHIMA T & ITO M. 2010. Th1/Th2/Th17 and Regulatory T-Cell Paradigm in Pregnancy. Am J Reprod Immunol 63(6): 601-610. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0897.2010.00852.x.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0897.2010...
.)

In pig was demonstrated that some cytokines, as IL-4, due to their functions can not be clearly included as Th1 or Th2 cytokine (Murtaugh et al. 2009MURTAUGH MP, JOHNSON CR, XIAO Z, SCAMURRA RW & ZHOU Y. 2009. Species specialization in cytokine biology: is interleukin-4 central to the T(H)1-T(H)2 paradigm in swine? Dev Comp Immunol 33(3): 344-352. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dci.2008.06.014.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dci.2008.06.01...
). In a previous paper (Vélez et al. 2019VÉLEZ C, CLAUZURE M, WILLIAMSON D, KONCURAT M, SANTA-COLOMA T & BARBEITO C. 2019. IL-1β, IL-2 and IL-4 concentration during porcine gestation. Theriogenology 128: 133-139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2019.01.017.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology...
) we found that cytokines considering as Th1 or Th2 during pig gestation did not follow the patterns described in mice and humans gestations, and Choi et al. (2018)CHOI SP, CHOI YC, YANG J, CHOI CY, LEE CH, KANG J & CHUN T. 2018. Monitoring mRNA transcription of genes involved in early pregnancy from endometrium and peripheral blood mononuclear cells of pregnant pigs with different parity. Reprod Domest Anim 53(6): 1594-1599. https://doi.org/10.1111/rda.13278.
https://doi.org/10.1111/rda.13278...
found that the ratio Th1/Th2 cytokines is not the only factor that determines embryo survival in early pig pregnancy. Considering these antecedents and the absence of any report that study the IFN-γ levels at the period after 50 dg, in this work we analyzed the levels of IFN-γ (like Th1 cytokine) in serum and placental interface during pig gestation. IL-10 (traditional Th2) was also studied in the same tissues, because is still unknown its behavior at any time of the pig gestation. The objective was to determine if these Th1 and Th2 cytokines present a different pattern in the classic paradigm as we observed with other cytokines.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Animals

Twenty crossbred pigs (Landrace x Large White) between their second and third births with gestations between 17 and 114 days, and 4 uteri of non pregnant pigs, were analyzed. The pigs were healthy as certified by assessment of medical records provided by the farmer owner. The organs were obtained from slaughterhouses near General Pico, La Pampa, Argentina. Animals were sacrificed according to the animal welfare manual of National Agrifood Health and Quality Service (known in Spanish as SENASA) (SENASA 2015SENASA. 2015. Manual de Bienestar Animal. Un enfoqe práctico para el buen manejo de especies domésticas durante su tenencia, producción, concentración, transporte y faena. Etología aplicada. Retrieved from http://www.senasa.gob.ar/sites/default/files/ARBOL_SENASA/ANIMAL/BOVINOS_BUBALINOS/INDUSTRIA/ESTABL_IND/BIENESTAR/manual_de_bienestar_animal_especies_domesticas_-_senasa_-_version_1-2015.pdf.
http://www.senasa.gob.ar/sites/default/f...
). All experimental procedures were revised and approved by a Scientific Committee of Faculty of Veterinary Science of the National University of La Pampa (research code: Res CD 311/2017).

The reproductive tracts were washed promptly with Hanks’ saline solution (SSH), 10,000 U/ml penicillin, 10 mg/ml streptomycin and 2.5 mg/ml fungizone and stored at 4°C until processing in the laboratory. Conceptus age was stablished using the crown-rump length of the embryos/fetuses according to the Marrable’s table (Marrable 1971MARRABLE AW. 1971. The Embryonic Pig: A Chronological Account. London: Pitman Medical.). Specimens were divided into six groups according to stages of development: 17 dg (n=4, implantation window) (Spencer et al. 2004SPENCER TE, BURGHARDT RC, JOHNSON GA & BAZER FW. 2004. Conceptus signals for establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. Anim Reprod Sci 83: 537-550. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2004.04.014.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.20...
), 30 dg (n=4, onset of ossification and immune system development) (Butler et al. 2009BUTLER JE, LAGER KM, SPLICHAL I, FRANCIS D, KACSKOVICS I, SINKORA M & RAMSOONDAR J. 2009. The piglet as a model for B cell and immune system development. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 128(1-3): 147-170. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetimm.2008.10.321.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetimm.2008.10...
), 60 dg (n=4, completed exponential placenta growth) (Wooding & Burton 2008WOODING P & BURTON G. 2008. Comparative Placentation: Structures, Functions and Evolution. Verlag: Springer.), 70 dg (n=4, placenta development plateaued and exponentially fetus growing) (Cristofolini et al. 2013CRISTOFOLINI A, SANCHIS G, MOLIVA M, ALONSO L, CHANIQUE A, KONCURAT M & MERKIS C. 2013. Cellular remodelling by apoptosis during porcine placentation. Reprod Domest Anim 48(4): 584-590. https://doi.org/10.1111/rda.12130.
https://doi.org/10.1111/rda.12130...
) and 114 dg (n=4, full-term placenta). In addition, uteri of 4 non pregnant pigs were obtained. The non pregnant pigs were in luteal phase of their estrous cycle, information based on their medical history.

Serum

Pigs were bled from the carotid artery following the protocol established in SENASA’s animal welfare manual (SENASA 2015SENASA. 2015. Manual de Bienestar Animal. Un enfoqe práctico para el buen manejo de especies domésticas durante su tenencia, producción, concentración, transporte y faena. Etología aplicada. Retrieved from http://www.senasa.gob.ar/sites/default/files/ARBOL_SENASA/ANIMAL/BOVINOS_BUBALINOS/INDUSTRIA/ESTABL_IND/BIENESTAR/manual_de_bienestar_animal_especies_domesticas_-_senasa_-_version_1-2015.pdf.
http://www.senasa.gob.ar/sites/default/f...
). Blood samples were kept at room temperature until clot retraction occurred and the serum exudate was formed. The serum was centrifuged at 500g for 20 min at room temperature, aliquoted, labeled and stored at -20 °C.

Maternal placental homogenates (MPHo), fetal placental homogenates (FPHo) and non pregnant uterus homogenates (NPUHo)

Placental extracts were obtained as previously described (Vélez et al. 2019VÉLEZ C, CLAUZURE M, WILLIAMSON D, KONCURAT M, SANTA-COLOMA T & BARBEITO C. 2019. IL-1β, IL-2 and IL-4 concentration during porcine gestation. Theriogenology 128: 133-139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2019.01.017.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology...
). Briefly, the uterine horn was opened along the mesometrial side. Then, a portion of 5 g of uterus (onwards maternal placenta) and chorioallantoic membrane (onwards fetal placenta), were extracted separately from each implantation site. The samples were macerated with three parts of saline solution to obtain a homogeneous mass that was centrifuged at 500g for 20 min. The supernatant was stored in 1,5 ml aliquots at -20°C. These samples were identified as porcine MPHo and FPHo. Homogenates from NP uteri (NPUHo) were processed in the same way (Koncurat et al. 1999KONCURAT M, GRECO C & VIVAS A. 1999. Hallazgo del factor precoz de preñez (EPF) en extractos placentarios porcinos. Rev Brasil Reprod Anim 3: 193-195.). One sample was taken from each uterine horn for NPUHo.

Cytokine determination

IFN-γ and IL-10 concentrations were determined using Eagle Biosciences and R&D Systems Swine Interleukin ELISA (enzyme linked immunoassay) kits, respectively. These kits are useful for the quantitative determination of pig cytokines concentrations in cell culture supernatants, serum, and plasma.

IFN-γ determination

IFN-γ was measured in serum and in NPUHo, MPHo and FPHo. Briefly, 100 µl of samples and standards were added in ELISA plate that contains primary monoclonal antibody against porcine IFN-γ (IFNG51-K01, Eagle Biosciences, USA). Then, 50 µl of biotinylated IFN-γ porcine antibody was added to each well. The plate was covered from light and incubated overnight at 4°C. Samples and standards were removed and the plate was washed four times by filling the wells with 200 µl of washing solution. Next, 100 ml of streptavidin-horseradish peroxidase (streptavidin/HRP) was added at each well and incubated for 30 min at room temperature with gently shake and avoiding the direct light. The solution was removed and the plate was washed four times. After, 100 µl of TMB (3,3’,5,5’-tetramethylbenzidine) solution was added to each well and incubated for 20 min at room temperature with gently shake and avoiding the direct light. Finally, 100 µl of stop solution was added to stop the reaction. Measurements were performed at 450 nm using a microplate reader (BioTeK® Instruments, Inc. USA).

IL-10 determination

IL-10 was measured in serum and in NPUHo, MPHo and FPHo. Briefly, 100 ul of assay diluent RD1W and 100 µl of samples and standards were incubated for 2 hours at room temperature in a linear shaker (DPC, USA) at 200 rpm in ELISA plate containing primary monoclonal antibody against porcine IL-10 (P-1000, R&D Systems, USA). Then, samples and standards were removed, and the plate was washed five times by filling the wells with 200 µl of washing solution. Next, 100 µl of IL-10 antibody conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was added. Samples were incubated for 2 hours at room temperature in a linear shaker and then washed. After, 120 µl of TMB (3,3’,5,5’-tetramethylbenzidine) solution was added to each well and incubated for 30 min at room temperature on the benchtop, protected from light. Finally, an equal volume of stop solution was added. Measurements were performed at 450 nm using a microplate reader (BioTeK® Instruments, Inc., USA).

Statistical analysis

Statistical data of IFN-γ and IL-10 concentrations from serum, NPUHo, MPHo and FPHo were performed using the InfoStat statistical software (Di Rienzo et al. 2010DI RIENZO JA, CASANOVES F, BALZARINI M, GONZALEZ L, TABLADA M & ROBLEDO C. 2010. InfoStat Software Estadístico Manual del Usuario. InfoStat Versión 2009.). One-way ANOVA and the Tukey’s test were applied to calculate significant differences among samples (p<0.05). All values are indicated as mean ± EE. In cases where the assumption of homogeneity of variance and normality was not fulfilled, the test nonparametric variance, Kruskall-Wallis was used. Values for p<0.05 were considered statistically significant and there are indicated by asterisks.

RESULTS

IFN-γ in serum, maternal placental homogenates (MPHo) and fetal placental homogenates (FPHo).

A comparison between IFN-γ concentrations in serum samples of non-pregnant and pregnant pigs of different gestation periods was performed. As shown in Figure 1a, IFN-γ concentration was found elevated at 60 dg (84.64±12.55 pg/ml) and in serum of non- pregnant pigs (NPS, 61.04±16.93 pg/ml). When we compared seric IFN-γ concentration between different periods during gestation we found that this cytokine was significantly lower at 17 and 114 dg (11.52±4.83 and 16.79±9.71 pg/ml, respectively) than 60 dg (p=0.005) (Figure 1a).

Figure 1
IFN-γ concentration (pg/ml) in serum, maternal placental homogenates (MPHo), fetal placental homogenates (FPHo) and non pregnant uterus homogenates (NPUHo), from 17, 30, 60, 70, and 114 days of gestation (dg). a) IFN-γ concentration (pg/ml) in serum from non pregnant pigs (NPS) and gestating pigs from different gestational periods. * indicates p<0.05 compared with 17 and 114 dg periods. b) IFN-γ concentration (pg/ml) in NPUHo and in MPHo from different gestational periods. c) IFN-γ levels (pg/ml) in FPHo samples from different gestational periods. b-c) * indicates p<0.05 compared with other periods.

On the other hand, at placental level, we observed a significant increase in IFN-γ concentration at 17 dg in MPHo (12924.78±4196.96 pg/ml; p=0.02) (Figure 1b), respect the NPUHo IFN-γ concentration (46.40±18.83 pg/ml). Otherwise, the IFN-γ concentration in FPHo showed a peak at 17 dg (4103.07±458.04 pg/ml) that significantly decreased in the others periods studied (30 dg: 270.21±85.93 pg/ml; 60 dg: 165.92±102.93; 70 dg: 59.10±32.72 and 114 dg: 0.74±0.72; p<0.0001, Figure 1c).

IL-10 in serum, maternal placental homogenates (MPHo) and fetal placental homogenates (FPHo)

A comparison between IL-10 concentrations in serum samples of non-pregnant and pregnant pigs in the different gestation periods was performed. As shown in Figure 2a, IL-10 concentration was significantly high in serum at 17 (11.59±0.58 pg/ml), 60 (15.53±0.01 pg/ml) and 114 dg (19.44±0.69 pg/ml), compared with serum from non-pregnant pigs (0.3±0.17 pg/ml) and serum from pigs that were in another gestation periods (30 dg: 0.47±0.21 pg/ml and 70 dg: 0.38±0.16 pg/ml; p<0.0001). On the other hand, local endometrial concentration of IL-10, either in NPUHo and in MPHo, was similar and even very low between non-pregnant pigs (0.22±0,12 pg/ml) and pigs in the gestation periods studied (p= 0.9) (Figure 2b, c). Otherwise, as shown in Figure 2c there were no significant differences in IL-10 concentration in FPHo between the different gestational periods studied (17 dg: 0.23±0.23 pg/ml; 30 dg: 0.5±0.10 pg/ml; 60 dg: 0.33±0.23 pg/ml; 70 dg: 0.34±0.17 pg/ml and 114 dg: 0.41±0.12 pg/ml; p= 0.68).

Figure 2
IL-10 concentration (pg/ml) in serum, maternal placental homogenates (MPHo), fetal placental homogenates (FPHo) and non pregnant uterus homogenates (NPUHo) from 17, 30, 60, 70, and 114 dg. a) IL-10 concentration (pg/ml) in serum from NP pig (NPS) and gestating pigs from different gestational periods. * indicates p<0.05 compared with NPS, 30 and 70 dg periods. b) IL-10 concentration (pg/ml) in NPUHo and in MPHo from different gestational periods. c) IL-10 levels (pg/ml) in FPHo samples from different gestational periods. b-c) no significant differences were found.

DISCUSSION

Early embryo loss is a very important problem in pig production, numerous studies have been conducted on the importance of cytokine expression during peri-implantation period, lapse with highest percentage of embryonic death occurs (Kridli et al. 2016KRIDLI RT, KHALAJ K, BIDARIMATH M & TAYADE C. 2016. Placentation, maternal - fetal interface , and conceptus loss in swine. Theriogenology 85(1): 135-144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2015.08.001.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology...
). However, a minor percentage of embryo loss also occurs in the second half of pregnancy, especially when placental remodeling processes occur. For example, between 60 and 90 dg, changes in death cell processes (Cristofolini et al. 2013CRISTOFOLINI A, SANCHIS G, MOLIVA M, ALONSO L, CHANIQUE A, KONCURAT M & MERKIS C. 2013. Cellular remodelling by apoptosis during porcine placentation. Reprod Domest Anim 48(4): 584-590. https://doi.org/10.1111/rda.12130.
https://doi.org/10.1111/rda.12130...
), in angiogenesis (Fiorimanti et al. 2018FIORIMANTI MR, RABAGLINO MB, CRISTOFOLINI AL & MERKIS CI. 2018. Immunohistochemical determination of Ang-1, Ang-2 and Tie-2 in placentas of sows at 30, 60 and 114 days of gestation and validation through a bioinformatic approach. Anim Reprod Sci 195(February): 242-250. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2018.06.001.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.20...
) and in adhesion molecules expression (Vélez et al. 2018VÉLEZ C, BARBEITO C & KONCURAT M. 2018. αvβ3 Integrin and fibronectin expressions and their relation to estrogen and progesterone during placentation in swine. Biotech Histochem 93(1): 15-24. https://doi.org/10.1080/10520295.2017.1374465.
https://doi.org/10.1080/10520295.2017.13...
) have been demonstrated. Moreover, at this gestation point, an increase of IL-1β, IL-2 e IL-4 expression (Vélez et al. 2019VÉLEZ C, CLAUZURE M, WILLIAMSON D, KONCURAT M, SANTA-COLOMA T & BARBEITO C. 2019. IL-1β, IL-2 and IL-4 concentration during porcine gestation. Theriogenology 128: 133-139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2019.01.017.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology...
) was reported.

In previous studies other authors have found high levels of uterine IFN-γ at preimplantation period (Cencič et al. 2002CENCIČ A, HENRY C, LEFÈVRE F, HUET J, KOREN S & LA BONNARDIÈRE C. 2002. The porcine trophoblastic interferon-γ, secreted by a polarized epithelium, has specific structural and biochemical properties. Eur J Biochem 269(11): 2772-2781. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1432-1033.2002.02950.x.
https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1432-1033.2002...
, La Bonnardière et al. 1994LA BONNARDIÈRE C, LEFÈVRE F & CHARLEY B. 1994. Interferon Response in Pigs: Molecular and Biological Aspects. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 43(1-3): 29-36. https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-2427(94)90117-1.
https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-2427(94)901...
, Lefèvre et al. 1990LEFÈVRE F, MARTINAT-BOTTÉ F, GUILLOMOT M, ZOUARI K, CHARLEY B & LA BONNARDIÈRE C. 1990. Interferon-gamma gene and protein are spontaneously expressed by the porcine trophectoderm early in gestation. Eur J Immunol 20(11): 2485-2490. https://doi.org/10.1002/eji.1830201119.
https://doi.org/10.1002/eji.1830201119...
). This increment was associated with the typical conceptus loss that occurs around day 20 of gestation but not in the loss that happens on day 50 (Bidarimath & Tayade 2017BIDARIMATH M & TAYADE C. 2017. Pregnancy and spontaneous fetal loss: A pig perspective. Mol Reprod Dev 89(9): 856-869. https://doi.org/10.1002/mrd.22847.
https://doi.org/10.1002/mrd.22847...
). In the present work we found that the concentration of this cytokine is low after 17 dg, both in maternal and fetal placenta, and those low values are maintained through pregnancy. However, we found an increase of IFN-γ in serum at 60 dg, the same period that we previously observed high seric levels of IL-1β (Vélez et al. 2019VÉLEZ C, CLAUZURE M, WILLIAMSON D, KONCURAT M, SANTA-COLOMA T & BARBEITO C. 2019. IL-1β, IL-2 and IL-4 concentration during porcine gestation. Theriogenology 128: 133-139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2019.01.017.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology...
). Its significant increase in serum at 60 dg, would generate a proinflammatory cytokine pattern that facility the placental remodeling characteristic of this moment of porcine gestation.

These results suggest that the IFN-γ source would not be placental, but another organ, since we have observed that its concentration was high in serum, but not in placenta. On the other hand, an increase of IFN-γ is evident in preterm hemochorial placenta and is related with the changes necessary to the delivery (Saito et al. 2010SAITO S, NAKASHIMA A, SHIMA T & ITO M. 2010. Th1/Th2/Th17 and Regulatory T-Cell Paradigm in Pregnancy. Am J Reprod Immunol 63(6): 601-610. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0897.2010.00852.x.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0897.2010...
, Sykes et al. 2012SYKES L, MACINTYRE DA, YAP XJ, TEOH TG & BENNETT PR. 2012. The Th1:Th2 Dichotomy of Pregnancy and Preterm Labour. Mediators Inflamm 2012: 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/967629.
https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/967629...
). This IFN-γ increase does not occur in the pig, a species with epitheliochorial placenta. In a previous report, we found that IL-1β and IL-2 increased in serum but not in placental interface at term gestation (Vélez et al. 2019VÉLEZ C, CLAUZURE M, WILLIAMSON D, KONCURAT M, SANTA-COLOMA T & BARBEITO C. 2019. IL-1β, IL-2 and IL-4 concentration during porcine gestation. Theriogenology 128: 133-139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2019.01.017.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology...
). Regarding these results, probably other proinflammatory cytokines replace the functions of IFN-γ in pigs’ delivery.

In studies conducted in human placenta, it was found that elevated levels of IL-10 are produced in the first and second trimester, but its production decreased at term. In peripheral blood of pregnant women, IL-10 levels were higher in the first trimester, but then gradually decreased to be practically the same as in non-pregnant women at the end of pregnancy (Hanna et al. 2000HANNA N, HANNA I, HLEB M, WAGNER E, DOUGHERTY J, BALKUNDI D & SHARMA S. 2000. Gestational Age-Dependent Expression of IL-10 and Its Receptor in Human Placental Tissues and Isolated Cytotrophoblasts. J Immunol 164(11): 5721-5728. https://doi.org/10.4049/jimmunol.164.11.5721.
https://doi.org/10.4049/jimmunol.164.11....
). Roth et al. (1996)ROTH I, CORRY DB, LOCKSLEY RM, ABRAMS JS, LITTON MJ & FISHER SJ. 1996. Human placental cytotrophoblasts produce the immunosuppressive cytokine interleukin 10. J Exp Med 184(2): 539-548. https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.184.2.539.
https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.184.2.539...
, postulate that the production of IL-10 by the placenta serves to protect fetus from the Th1-mediated cellular response. We found that IL-10 levels in maternal and fetal placenta tissues were very low and similar along all the pregnancy. However, we found that the serum concentration of IL-10 was increased at 17, 60 and 114 dg. Studies in Rhesus monkeys (Sadowsky et al. 2003SADOWSKY DW, NOVY MJ, WITKIN SS & GRAVETT MG. 2003. Dexamethasone or interleukin-10 blocks interleukin-1β-induced uterine contractions in pregnant rhesus monkeys. Am J Obstet Gynecol 188(1): P252-263. https://doi.org/10.1067/mob.2003.70.
https://doi.org/10.1067/mob.2003.70...
) demonstrated the inhibitory effects of IL-10 on uterine motility in late pregnancy, to prevent premature delivery. Otherwise, IL-10 concentration in cervical tissue of cattle has been determined moments before the birth, during and after the birth (Van Engelen et al. 2009VAN ENGELEN E, DE GROOT MW, BREEVELD-DWARKASING VNA, EVERTS ME, VAN DER WEYDEN GC & TAVERNE MAM. 2009. Cervical Ripening and Parturition in Cows are Driven by a Cascade of Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines. Reprod Dom Anim 44(841): 834-841. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0531.2008.01096.x.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0531.2008...
). These authors postulated that its high concentration in these stages indicates that it would be fulfilling an immunoregulatory role during the great inflammation generated by the cervical maturation, thus preventing excessive tissue damage generated by this process. The high IL-10 concentration in serum at the period of the beginning of uterine remodeling (60 dg) and in partum (114 dg), could demonstrate that in pig this cytokine is associated with inhibitory effect to prevent an excessive remodeling process as was postulated in bovine cervix by Van Engelen et al. (2009)VAN ENGELEN E, DE GROOT MW, BREEVELD-DWARKASING VNA, EVERTS ME, VAN DER WEYDEN GC & TAVERNE MAM. 2009. Cervical Ripening and Parturition in Cows are Driven by a Cascade of Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines. Reprod Dom Anim 44(841): 834-841. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0531.2008.01096.x.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0531.2008...
. The high IL-10 levels found in serum, but not at the placental interface, could indicate its immunoregulatory role at a systemic level during the pig gestation.

IL-10 mRNA expression in pigs was previously found only in term placenta (Zhou et al. 2019ZHOU Y, XU T, WU Y, WEI H & PENG J. 2019. Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Sows with Excess Backfat: Up-Regulated Cytokine Expression and Elevated Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Placenta. Animals 9(10): 796. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9100796.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9100796...
) and in 30 dg placenta (Choi et al. 2018CHOI SP, CHOI YC, YANG J, CHOI CY, LEE CH, KANG J & CHUN T. 2018. Monitoring mRNA transcription of genes involved in early pregnancy from endometrium and peripheral blood mononuclear cells of pregnant pigs with different parity. Reprod Domest Anim 53(6): 1594-1599. https://doi.org/10.1111/rda.13278.
https://doi.org/10.1111/rda.13278...
). However, in our study not relation between serum and placental levels was observed, and we must postulate an extraplacental origin of this cytokine. The production of IL-10 in pigs was determinate in different organs as tonsils (Müllebner et al. 2018MÜLLEBNER A, SASSU EL, LADINIG A, FRÖMBLING J, MILLER I, EHLING-SCHULZ M & DUVIGNEAU JC. 2018. Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae triggers IL-10 expression in tonsils to mediate colonisation and persistence of infection in pigs. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 205: 17-23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetimm.2018.10.008.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetimm.2018.10...
) and lymph nodes (Arenas-Padilla et al. 2018ARENAS-PADILLA M, DUARTE-GUTIÉRREZ JL & MATA-HARO V. 2018. Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis Bb12 induces IL-10 through cell membrane-associated components via TLR2 in swine. J Appl Microbiol 125(6): 1881-1889. https://doi.org/10.1111/jam.14069.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jam.14069...
). Specifically, this cytokine is produced by monocytes (Arenas-Padilla et al. 2018ARENAS-PADILLA M, DUARTE-GUTIÉRREZ JL & MATA-HARO V. 2018. Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis Bb12 induces IL-10 through cell membrane-associated components via TLR2 in swine. J Appl Microbiol 125(6): 1881-1889. https://doi.org/10.1111/jam.14069.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jam.14069...
, Choi et al. 2018CHOI SP, CHOI YC, YANG J, CHOI CY, LEE CH, KANG J & CHUN T. 2018. Monitoring mRNA transcription of genes involved in early pregnancy from endometrium and peripheral blood mononuclear cells of pregnant pigs with different parity. Reprod Domest Anim 53(6): 1594-1599. https://doi.org/10.1111/rda.13278.
https://doi.org/10.1111/rda.13278...
). Makris et al. (2006)MAKRIS A, XU B, YU B, THORNTON C & HENNESSY A. 2006. Placental deficiency of interleukin-10 (IL-10) in preeclampsia and its relationship to an IL10 promoter polymorphism. Placenta 27(4-5): 445-451. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.placenta.2005.05.003.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.placenta.2005....
, demonstrated that there is not relationship between placental levels and serum levels of IL-10 in humans. This seems to show that human placenta would not be the main source of circulating IL-10, coinciding to our finding in pigs. Future experiments must be realized to determine the additional source of serum IL-10 during pig gestation.

In the classic paradigm Th1/Th2, and their actualization Th1/Th2/Th17 Treg paradigm (Murtaugh et al. 2009MURTAUGH MP, JOHNSON CR, XIAO Z, SCAMURRA RW & ZHOU Y. 2009. Species specialization in cytokine biology: is interleukin-4 central to the T(H)1-T(H)2 paradigm in swine? Dev Comp Immunol 33(3): 344-352. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dci.2008.06.014.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dci.2008.06.01...
, Polese et al. 2014POLESE B, GRIDELET V, ARAKLIOTI E, MARTENS H, PERRIER D’HAUTERIVE S & GEENEN V. 2014. The Endocrine Milieu and CD4 T-Lymphocyte Polarization during Pregnancy. Front Endocrinol 5: 106. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2014.00106.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2014.00106...
, Saito et al. 2010SAITO S, NAKASHIMA A, SHIMA T & ITO M. 2010. Th1/Th2/Th17 and Regulatory T-Cell Paradigm in Pregnancy. Am J Reprod Immunol 63(6): 601-610. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0897.2010.00852.x.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0897.2010...
), mainly studied in mice and human, the expression of all the cytokines of the same type (Th1 or Th2) is similar along the gestation. This means that in those species, in early gestation there is a predominance of Th1 cytokines that are involved in the implantation window (Granot et al. 2012GRANOT I, GNAINSKY Y & DEKEL N. 2012. Endometrial inflammation and effect on implantation improvement and pregnancy outcome. Reproduction (Cambridge, England) 144(6): 661-668. https://doi.org/10.1530/REP-12-0217.
https://doi.org/10.1530/REP-12-0217...
, Teles & Zenclussen 2014TELES A & ZENCLUSSEN A. 2014. How Cells of the Immune System Prepare the Endometrium for Implantation. Semin Reprod Med 32(5): 358-364. https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0034-1383735.
https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0034-1383735...
). Then, through the gestation, the environment is fully of Th2/T17 cytokines, so that allows the gestation success (Saito et al. 2010SAITO S, NAKASHIMA A, SHIMA T & ITO M. 2010. Th1/Th2/Th17 and Regulatory T-Cell Paradigm in Pregnancy. Am J Reprod Immunol 63(6): 601-610. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0897.2010.00852.x.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0897.2010...
, Zenclussen 2013ZENCLUSSEN AC. 2013. Adaptive Immune Responses During Pregnancy. Am J Reprod Immunol 69(4): 291-303. https://doi.org/10.1111/aji.12097.
https://doi.org/10.1111/aji.12097...
). Finally, at delivery, there are a predominance of Th1 cytokines again to promote the expulsion of fetuses and placentas (Bai et al. 2019BAI H, SHABUR T, KUNII H, ITOH T, KAWAHARA M & TAKAHASHI M. 2019. Evaluation of the Immune Status of Peripheral Blood Monocytes From Dairy Cows During the Periparturition Period. J Reprod Dev 65(4): 313-318. https://doi.org/10.1262/JRD.2018-150.
https://doi.org/10.1262/JRD.2018-150...
, Challis et al. 2009CHALLIS J, LOCKWOOD C, MYATT L, NORMAN J, STRAUSS III J & PETRAGLIA F. 2009. Inflammation and Pregnancy. Reprod Sci 16(2): 206-215. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Charles_Lockwood/publication/23999201_Inflammation_and_Pregnancy/links/54a5843e0cf257a63608d2d6/Inflammation-and-Pregnancy.pdf.). In pigs, are scarce the studies that analyze the cytokines expression during pregnancy. In a previous report (Vélez et al. 2019VÉLEZ C, CLAUZURE M, WILLIAMSON D, KONCURAT M, SANTA-COLOMA T & BARBEITO C. 2019. IL-1β, IL-2 and IL-4 concentration during porcine gestation. Theriogenology 128: 133-139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2019.01.017.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology...
) we found that two Th1 (IL-1β and IL-2) cytokines and one Th2 (IL-4) cytokine show a similar variation during gestation. These were found elevated in placental remodeling stages (30, 60, 70 gd), different to the cytokines (IFN-γ and IL-10) determined in this work. These results strengthen the hypothesis that Th1 and Th2 cytokines during pig gestation could behave differently from what happens in other species. A better understanding of the mechanisms that mediate the interactions between the conceptus and the uterus of the sow will imply important advances to improve the productivity of this species. This will have a positive impact on the economy of the pig farms, since the embryonic / fetal losses are high.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This study was partially funded by the National Agency for the Promotion of Science and Technology of Argentina (ANPCYT, PICTO 2011 0242) and the Science and Technology Program of the National University of La Pampa (UNLPam, grant N° 360/11). CV is a postdoctoral fellow and MC and CB are research fellow from the National Scientific and Technical Research Council of Argentina (CONICET). DW and MK are research fellow from UNLPam.

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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    14 Apr 2023
  • Date of issue
    2023

History

  • Received
    24 July 2020
  • Accepted
    25 Oct 2020
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