Infection-induced autoantibodies and pregnancy related pathology: an animal model
Authorized Users Only
2014
Authors
Petrušić, VladimirŽivković, Irena
Muhandes, Lina
Dimitrijević, Rajna

Stojanović, Marijana

Dimitrijević, Ljiljana
Article (Published version)

Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
In addition to being the main cause of mortality worldwide, bacterial and viral infections can be the cause of autoimmune and pregnancy disorders as well. The production of autoantibodies during infection can be explained by various mechanisms, including molecular mimicry, bystander cell activation and epitope spreading. Conversely, bacterial and viral infections during pregnancy are especially dangerous for the fetus. It is documented that infection-induced inflammatory processes mediated by Toll-like receptors (TLR) represent the main cause of preterm labour. We used two crucial bacterial components and TLR ligands, namely peptidoglycan and lipopolysaccharide, to stimulate BALB/c mice before immunisation with tetanus toxoid. Tetanus toxoid is an inactive form of the toxin produced by bacterium Clostridium tetani and shares structural similarity with plasma protein beta(2)-glycoprotein I. Treatment with peptidoglycan and lipopolysaccharide in combination with tetanus toxoid induced th...e production of pathological autoantibodies, different fluctuations in natural autoantibodies and different types of reproductive pathology in treated animals, with peptidoglycan treatment being more deleterious. We propose that the production of pathological autoantibodies, TLR activation and changes in natural autoantibodies play crucial roles in infection-induced reproductive pathology in our animal model.
Keywords:
fecundity, fertility, lipopolysaccharide, peptidoglycan, reproductive pathology.Source:
Reproduction Fertility and Development, 2014, 26, 4, 578-586Publisher:
- Csiro Publishing, Clayton
Funding / projects:
- Allergens, antibodies, enzymes and small physiologically important molecules: design, structure, function and relevance (RS-172049)
- 41021
DOI: 10.1071/RD13057
ISSN: 1031-3613
PubMed: 23657219