Effect of prenatal steroid treatment on the developing immune system

TY - JOUR

T1 - Effect of prenatal steroid treatment on the developing immune system

AU - Diepenbruck, Ines

AU - Much, Chressen C

AU - Krumbholz, Aniko

AU - Kolster, Manuela

AU - Thieme, René

AU - Thieme, Detlef

AU - Diepenbruck, Silke

AU - Solano, M Emilia

AU - Arck, Petra C

AU - Tolosa, Eva

PY - 2013/11/1

Y1 - 2013/11/1

N2 - UNLABELLED: Prenatal steroids have an undisputed positive effect of decreasing neonatal morbidity and mortality by improving fetal lung maturation. Some concerns have been raised on long-term consequences on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and cognition, but there are no studies addressing effects on the immune system. The thymus is an essential organ for the development and selection of T cells, and thymocytes are extremely sensitive to steroids. Using a mouse model for prenatal steroid administration, we show here that betamethasone treatment to the mother has a profound effect on the thymus of the offspring. We find the thymus volume reduced, affecting mostly the developing CD4+ CD8+ double-positive thymocytes and a compensatory accelerated transition of the earlier stages to replenish the depleted compartment. This effect lasts for at least 3 days, which correspond to a very relevant period for the selection of the T cell repertoire. Moreover, we show that low doses of betamethasone have similar effects on human thymocytes in vitro. Therefore, further studies are needed to analyze possible long-term consequences of this treatment on the immune system of the offspring.KEY MESSAGE: Betamethasone administered to the mother before birth reaches the fetal thymus. Prenatal betamethasone results in massive loss of developing thymocytes. The effects of betamethasone on thymus development are visible for several days. Human thymocytes are also sensitive to low doses of betamethasone. Altered thymocyte development around birth may have an effect on the immune system.

AB - UNLABELLED: Prenatal steroids have an undisputed positive effect of decreasing neonatal morbidity and mortality by improving fetal lung maturation. Some concerns have been raised on long-term consequences on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and cognition, but there are no studies addressing effects on the immune system. The thymus is an essential organ for the development and selection of T cells, and thymocytes are extremely sensitive to steroids. Using a mouse model for prenatal steroid administration, we show here that betamethasone treatment to the mother has a profound effect on the thymus of the offspring. We find the thymus volume reduced, affecting mostly the developing CD4+ CD8+ double-positive thymocytes and a compensatory accelerated transition of the earlier stages to replenish the depleted compartment. This effect lasts for at least 3 days, which correspond to a very relevant period for the selection of the T cell repertoire. Moreover, we show that low doses of betamethasone have similar effects on human thymocytes in vitro. Therefore, further studies are needed to analyze possible long-term consequences of this treatment on the immune system of the offspring.KEY MESSAGE: Betamethasone administered to the mother before birth reaches the fetal thymus. Prenatal betamethasone results in massive loss of developing thymocytes. The effects of betamethasone on thymus development are visible for several days. Human thymocytes are also sensitive to low doses of betamethasone. Altered thymocyte development around birth may have an effect on the immune system.

KW - Animals

KW - Animals, Newborn

KW - Betamethasone

KW - Female

KW - Fetus

KW - Glucocorticoids

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Mice

KW - Mice, Inbred BALB C

KW - Mice, Inbred C57BL

KW - Organ Size

KW - Pregnancy

KW - T-Lymphocytes

KW - Thymus Gland

U2 - 10.1007/s00109-013-1069-2

DO - 10.1007/s00109-013-1069-2

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 23851605

VL - 91

SP - 1293

EP - 1302

JO - J MOL MED

JF - J MOL MED

SN - 0946-2716

IS - 11

ER -