Introduction: Interferon regulatory factor-7 (IRF-7), the “master regulator” of type 1 interferon, has shown to orchestrate anti-viral immune responses via fine-tuning expression of interferons and interferon-stimulated genes. Methods: IRF-7 levels were examined using multi-parametric flow-cytometry in HIV-uninfected Manitoban donors and in HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected Kenyan volunteers from a well-characterized Kenyan sex worker cohort. IRF-7 expression level was reduced by IRF-7 specific siRNA or shRNA encoded in lentivirus and administered into ex-vivo CD4+ T cells by transfection or transduction. Results: In unstimulated PBMC, IRF-7 was constitutively expressed at low levels in every defined subset we examined. We observed less HIV-infected cells (~10%) with IRF-7 knockdown, suggesting that IRF-7 may play a role in HIV infection. Conclusions: Unexpectedly, it was found that even though IRF-7 had been implicated in orchestrating antiviral events, reducing IRF-7 expression in ex vivo CD4+ T cells did not increase the cellular susceptibility to productive HIV infection. / February 2017

La maladie de Parkinson (MP) est caractérisée par la mort des neurones dopaminergiques de la substance noire et la présence de corps de Lewy. Son diagnostic reste sujet à des erreurs notamment aux stades précoces. Les cellules mononucléées sanguines périphériques (PBMC) jouent un rôle dans la cascade délétère et sont le reflet d’événements associés à la MP. Même si elles ne représentent qu’un faible pourcentage, les formes génétiquement déterminées permettent d’identifier des sujets à un stade précoce. Nous avons émis l’hypothèse que les PBMC pouvaient constituer un modèle d’étude reflétant certains mécanismes de la dégénérescence du vivant du patient. Nous avons réalisé des études du transcriptome chez différents groupes de sujets malades ou porteurs de mutations pour y déceler les gènes et voies de signalisation cellulaire dérégulés. Nous avons d’abord étudié le profil d’expression génique de sujets porteurs de la mutation G2019S de LRRK2. L’analyse des puces a permis d’identifier des perturbations de voies impliquées dans la MP comme l’oxydation mitochondriale, l’inflammation et la guidance axonale. Des altérations de la voie des MAPK, du cytosquelette d’actine et du transport vésiculaire ont été notées. La liste des gènes dérégulés permet de séparer les individus selon leur statut génétique. La mutation LRRK2 est associée à un profil d’expression génique dès les stades précoces identifiable dans les PBMC. Nous nous sommes ensuite intéressés à une autre forme de MP avec duplication de SNCA. Nous avons caractérisé la relation entre le génotype et le phénotype clinique des sujets de cette famille. La duplication s’étend sur 4,928 Mb, comporte 31 gènes et résulte d’une recombinaison homologue non allélique. L’analyse de l’expression des gènes présents dans la duplication dans les PBMC d’un sujet à un stade pauci-symptomatique a montré une surexpression de SNCA. Nous avons comparé nos analyses chez les porteurs des mutations LRRK2 et SNCA et chez des parkinsoniens sporadiques. Nos analyses montrent que les sujets LRRK2 et les sujets sporadiques présentent des dérégulations communes de voies de signalisation. En revanche, les voies dérégulées chez le sujet dupliqué reflètent la pathogénie de SNCA comme l’autophagie et les voies lysosomales. Nous nous sommes intéressés à l’expression des 4 isoformes de SNCA dans les PBMC de ces 3 groupes d’individus. Les patients sporadiques et LRRK2 montrent une diminution de l’expression des 4 isoformes de SNCA dans leur PBMC. Chez le sujet dupliqué, on observe uniquement une surexpression de l’isoforme 112. Nous avons ensuite identifié les voies moléculaires associée / Parkinson's disease (PD) is prone to misdiagnosis particularly in the early stages. A better understanding of the deleterious mechanisms is essential to identify therapeutic targets and detect the disease earlier. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) play a role in the deleterious cascade and reflect molecular events associated with PD. Moreover, the study of genetically determined forms of PD enables the identification of subjects at a very early. We hypothesized that PBMCs could be an interesting model to study some mechanisms reflecting the neurodegeneration even at an early stage of the disease. Therefore, we conducted transcriptomic studies in different groups of PD subjects or patients with mutations in order to detect deregulated genes and signaling pathways.We first studied the gene expression profile of PD subjects with the mutation G2019S of the LRRK2 gene. Analysis of microarrays identified disturbances in cell signaling pathways involved in PD. Alterations in the MAPK pathway, the actin cytoskeleton and vesicular transport, associated with the pathogenesis of LRRK2, were noted. The list of deregulated genes separates individuals based on their genetic status including an asymptomatic subject. G2019S LRRK2 mutation is associated to a particular gene expression profile identifiable in PBMCs even at early stage.Then we investigated another form of genetically determined by duplication of SNCA gene. We better characterized the relationship between genotype and clinical phenotype of the subjects. The duplication extends 4.928 Mb, contains 31 genes and results from non-allelic homologous recombination. The analysis of the expression of genes in the PBMCs of a subject carrying the mutation at preclinical stage showed overexpression of SNCA.We compared PBMCs gene expression of G2019S LRRK2 mutation carriers, SNCA duplication carrier and also sporadic PD patients. Our analysis showed that carriers of the LRRK2 mutation and sporadic PD patients have common deregulated signaling pathways that reflect the PD pathogenesis. By contrast, pathways deregulated in the subject with SNCA duplication reflect the pathogenesis of SNCA. In addition, we looked at the expression of SNCA isoforms in PBMCs of these three groups of individuals. Sporadic and LRRK2 patients showed a decreased expression of four isoforms of SNCA in their PBMCs. However, in the duplicated subject, only isoform 112 was overexpressed.Then we used this technology to identify molecular pathways associated with spino-cerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2), which provides rarely a parkinsonian phenotype and compared with subjects with a cerebellar phenotype. Again, we identified deregulation of gene expression associated with SCA2 pathogenesis, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and actin cytoskeleton in PBMCs of subjects with parkinsonian and metabolism of RNA and inositol phosphate in cerebellar subjects.Finally, we looked at gene expression in PBMCs according to the evolutionary and clinical stage of PD including individuals at a very early. We compared their gene expression profiles with more advanced PD patients. From the early stages, we observed a deregulation of ERK/MAPK and PI3K/Akt pathways that control cell survival; these findings underscore the importance of these biological pathways in the development of PD.In conclusion, we demonstrated that PBMCs are an interesting model. The transcriptomic studies can get insight into the mechanisms associated with early stages of degeneration and into biological markers, such as SNCA. This technique could be applied in a larger number of subjects including other neurodegenerative diseases to detect specific diagnostic markers of PD.

Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-27T13:37:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 tese_12502_Tese - Lidiane Pignaton Agostini.pdf: 2963143 bytes, checksum: 76cc790c5543c25d309bc0feced39101 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-06-27 / O Glifosato [N-(fosfonometil)glicina] é um herbicida pós-emergente, não seletivo e sistêmico. No processo de criação das formulações comerciais de herbicidas a base de glifosato (GBHs, do inglês glyphosate-based herbicides), como o Roundup®, são adicionados surfactantes com o intuito de aumentar a eficiência do composto base. A rota prioritária de degradação do glifosato por micro-organismos no solo resulta na formação do ácido aminometilfosfônico (AMPA). As respostas moleculares ao glifosato têm sido extensivamente estudadas em espécies de plantas e em alguns vertebrados. Em humanos, apesar dos estudos até agora realizados, não se conhece exatamente quais os riscos e mecanismos de atuação que explicariam a toxicidade ao glifosato relatada em alguns experimentos. Sendo assim, a hipótese dessa tese é de que a exposição rápida ao Roundup® e ao AMPA leva à alterações de expressão gênica em importantes processos celulares. Dessa forma, o objetivo desse trabalho é identificar genes diferencialmente expressos (DEGs, do inglês differentially expressed genes) em células mononucleares do sangue periférico (PBMCs, do inglês, peripheral blood mononuclear cells) humano submetidas à exposição rápida com herbicida à base de glifosato (Roundup®) e AMPA. O teste de MTT [3(4,5-dimetiltiazol-2-il)-2,5-difeniltetrazólio brometo], realizado em triplicatas, foi utilizado para avaliar a viabilidade celular e para a escolha das condições de tratamento utilizadas na técnica de microarray (GeneChip® Human Transcriptome Array 2.0, Affymetrix). As condições analisadas foram controle (3 chips), AMPA (10 mM; 3 chips) e Roundup® (0,05%; 2 chips), expostos durante 3 horas. Utilizando um valor de p<0,05 e fold-change de 1,5 foram identificados 5 DEGs no tratamento com o AMPA e 26 no tratamento com Roundup®. As análises de enriquecimento mostraram que os genes com expressão alterada após exposição ao Roundup® estavam associados a 33 processos celulares, principalmente relacionados à regulação destes processos. A plataforma digital Pathview foi utilizada para identificar a atuação dos DEGs após exposição ao Roundup® em diferentes vias. Os genes TNF, LTA, TAB2 e ATM foram relacionados à via de sinalização NF-kappa &#946;; BCL2L11 e ATM à via de sinalização FoxO; SESN3 e ATM à via de sinalização p53; e TNF, BCL2L11 e ATM à apoptose. Dessa forma, os resultados sugerem que o Roundup® altera o padrão de expressão gênica de diversos genes associados com o controle do ciclo celular, regulação de processos celulares e apoptose.

Para verificar a permissividade de células de origem hematopoiéticas à infecção por HAdV-41, foram infectados PBMC e IEL de voluntários. Os ensaios foram comparados com células HEK-293 infectadas. Foram analisadas as expressões dos genes virais E1A, E1B (55K), E3 (14K), VARNA, hexon e fibra curta (FC) e do gene celular GAPDH. O mRNA foi detectado por RT-PCR em tempo real e a produção de proteínas foi visualizada por IFI. Em HEK-293, a transcrição dos genes E1A, E1B e E3 iniciou-se às 11h p.i, hexon,às 13h pi.,VARNA e FC às 14h p.i. Em PBMC a transcrição de E1A, E1B e VARNA iniciou-se 17h p.i e a expressão dos genes hexon e fibra curta foi detectada 18h p.i e 20 h p.i. respectivamente. O nível de expressão dos genes virais em HEK-293 foi quase 200 vezes maior em relação à PBMC. Os IELs também mostraram-se permissivos à infecção pelo HAdV-41 como mostrado pela expressão dos genes virais. Essa é a primeira evidência de que este vírus possa infectar tais células. Os resultados obtidos ajudam a elucidar os mecanismos de interação do vírus com a célula-hospedeira. / In order to verify the permissiveness of hematopoietic cells to HAdV-41 infection, PBMC and IEL from volunteers were infected. The infection assays were compared with infected HEK -293 cells. We analysed the E1A, E1B (55K), E3 (14K), VARNA, hexon and short fiber (SF) viral gene expression and GAPDH cellular gene expression. The mRNA were detected by real time PCR and the viral protein synthesis were detected by IIF. In HEK-293 cells E1A, E1B and E3 gene expression were detected 11h p.i Hexon gene expression was detected at 13h p.i, while VARNA and SF were detected 14h p.i In PBMC, E1A, E1B and VARNA gene expression were detected 17h p.i and the hexon and SF were detected 18h p.i and 20h p.i, respectively. The viral gene expression level in infected HEK-293 cells was 200 fold higher than infected PBMC. The IEL also were permissive to HAdV-41 infection showed by viral gene expressions. This is the first evidence that HAdV-41 is able to infect these cells types. These results helps to understand the virus-cell interaction mechanisms.

Para verificar a permissividade de células de origem hematopoiéticas à infecção por HAdV-41, foram infectados PBMC e IEL de voluntários. Os ensaios foram comparados com células HEK-293 infectadas. Foram analisadas as expressões dos genes virais E1A, E1B (55K), E3 (14K), VARNA, hexon e fibra curta (FC) e do gene celular GAPDH. O mRNA foi detectado por RT-PCR em tempo real e a produção de proteínas foi visualizada por IFI. Em HEK-293, a transcrição dos genes E1A, E1B e E3 iniciou-se às 11h p.i, hexon,às 13h pi.,VARNA e FC às 14h p.i. Em PBMC a transcrição de E1A, E1B e VARNA iniciou-se 17h p.i e a expressão dos genes hexon e fibra curta foi detectada 18h p.i e 20 h p.i. respectivamente. O nível de expressão dos genes virais em HEK-293 foi quase 200 vezes maior em relação à PBMC. Os IELs também mostraram-se permissivos à infecção pelo HAdV-41 como mostrado pela expressão dos genes virais. Essa é a primeira evidência de que este vírus possa infectar tais células. Os resultados obtidos ajudam a elucidar os mecanismos de interação do vírus com a célula-hospedeira. / In order to verify the permissiveness of hematopoietic cells to HAdV-41 infection, PBMC and IEL from volunteers were infected. The infection assays were compared with infected HEK -293 cells. We analysed the E1A, E1B (55K), E3 (14K), VARNA, hexon and short fiber (SF) viral gene expression and GAPDH cellular gene expression. The mRNA were detected by real time PCR and the viral protein synthesis were detected by IIF. In HEK-293 cells E1A, E1B and E3 gene expression were detected 11h p.i Hexon gene expression was detected at 13h p.i, while VARNA and SF were detected 14h p.i In PBMC, E1A, E1B and VARNA gene expression were detected 17h p.i and the hexon and SF were detected 18h p.i and 20h p.i, respectively. The viral gene expression level in infected HEK-293 cells was 200 fold higher than infected PBMC. The IEL also were permissive to HAdV-41 infection showed by viral gene expressions. This is the first evidence that HAdV-41 is able to infect these cells types. These results helps to understand the virus-cell interaction mechanisms.

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

5 Abstract Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a serious organ-specific autoimmune disease characterised by irreversible destruction of pancreatic β-cells by immune system. This process results in an absolute insulin deficiency. Both genetical predisposition and environmental factors influence the development of the disease. β-cell destruction is mediated by cellular components of an immune system. Proinflammatory Th1 response is considered as most pathological. Autoimmune destruction of β-cells can be identified by the detection of specific serum autoantibodies a long time before the T1D clinical onset. Currently, there is no efficient cure available to prevent or at least to delay the destructive insulitis. This diploma thesis describes the influence of synthetic diabetogenic autoantigens GAD65 and IA2 on the cytokine response of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) obtained from T1D patients with regards to their antibody profile. The study has been carried out on patients with confirmed T1D diagnosis who tested positive for anti-GAD65 and/or anti-IA2 autoantibodies. By using flow cytometry we measured the cell type ratio in PBMC samples. The cells have been stimulated by three different concentrations of antigens and their IFNγ and IL-17 production has been detected by ELISPOT assay. In the case of both...

No description available.

O sistema imunológico materno desempenha um papel importante no estabelecimento da gestação e desenvolvimento de concepto até início do parto. A hipótese deste projeto é que há um recrutamento de células T&#947;&#948 para o endométrio ao longo da gestação que expressam citocinas que favorecem o estabelecimento e manutenção da tolerância materna a antígenos fetais durante a gestação em bovinos. Experimento I Para estudar a dinâmica populacional das células do sistema imune no sangue periférico de não lactantes não prenhes (NLNP), vacas lactantes no 1º trimestre e vacas no 3º trimestre da gestação, as PBMCs foram separadas por gradiente de densidade de Ficoll, seguido por protocolo de imunocitoquímica e analisadas em citômetro de fluxo para os anticorpos CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD14+, CD25+ e WC1+. As células analisadas tanto na região de linfócitos quanto na região de monócitos, não apresentaram diferença significativa entre os grupos analisados. Experimento II Para análise do perfil de expressão gênica das células T&#947;&#948, foram coletadas amostras de sangue de vacas no 1º trimestre da gestação, vacas lactantes não prenhes (LNP) e vacas não lactantes não prenhes (NLNP). As células mononucleares foram separadas por gradiente de densidade de Ficoll e células T&#947;&#948 foram analisadas quanto ao perfil de citocinas por qRT-PCR para os genes IFNG; IL10; IL15; IL17; IL18; IL1B; IL4; IL-6; ISG15; PFR; TGFB2 e TNFA. A análise de expressão gênica mostrou tendência no aumento na expressão de IL1B, IL6 e TGFB2 em células PBMC em vacas NLNP quando comparado com vacas LNP e no 1º trimestre da gestação, enquanto que os outros genes analisados não apresentaram diferença significativa. Experimento III Fragmentos de endométrio, provenientes de abatedouro, foram coletados de vacas em 1º trimestre (33 a 35 dias de gestação), 2º trimestre (143 a 182 dias de gestação) e 3º trimestre de gestação (228 a 247 dias de gestação). Cortes congelados foram imunolocalizados e quantificados para as células do sistema imune CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD14+, CD18+, CD25+, CD62L+ e WC1+ por imunofluorescência. Nossos estudos mostraram aumento das células CD25+ e CD62L+ no endométrio no início da gestação. No meio da gestação, há um aumento das células WC1+ e CD14+. No final da gestação, observamos o aumento de CD14+, CD25+, CD18+ e CD62L+. Em suma, nossos dados sugerem que a modulação do sistema imune materno é específica para cada estágio da gestação, sendo que no início da gestação há um envolvimento de células T ativadas (CD25+) provavelmente para o estabelecimento de uma resposta ativa para tolerância dos antígenos fetais. Já no meio da gestação, há um recrutamento massivo de células T&#947;&#948 para o endométrio gravídico provavelmente para manter um microambiente de tolerância para o desenvolvimento fetal e no final da gestação células efetoras como macrófagos são recrutadas para o endométrio para auxiliar no processo do parto e involução uterina. / The maternal immune system plays an important role on the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy until the onset of parturition in mammals. Our hypothesis is that there is a recruitment of &#947;&#948T-cell to the endometrium during pregnancy. These cells express a particular cytokine profile that is important to the establishment and maintenance of maternal toleranceto fetal antigens in cattle. Experiment I - To study the population dynamics of immune cells in the peripheral blood of NLNP, 1st and 3rd trimester of pregnancy, PBMCs were separated by Ficoll density gradient and the abundance of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD14+, CD25+ and WC1+ was analyzed by single-color flow cytometry. There was no statistical difference of the abundance of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ and CD25+ among groups of cows. Experiment II To analyze the gene expression profile of 1st trimester, LNP and NLNP. PBMCs were isolated by Ficoll density gradient and &#947;&#948T-cells (WC1+) were enriched by magnetic cell sorting. Both PBMC and WC1+ cells gene expression was analyzed for IFNG; IL10; IL15; IL17; IL18; IL1B; IL4; IL-6; ISG15; PFR; TGFB2 and TNFA by qRT-PCR. Gene expression analysis showed increased expression of the IL1B, IL6 and TGFB2 in PBMC in NLNP compared with 1st trimester of pregnancy and LNP cows, while other genes analyzed showed no significant difference. Experiment III fragments of endometrium were collected from cows at the early (33 to 35 days of pregnancy), mid (143 to 182 days of pregnancy) and late pregnancy (228 to 247 days of pregnancy). Endometrial immune cells were quantified (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD14+, CD18+, CD25+, CD62L+, and WC1+) by single-color immunofluorescence. There was an increase CD25+ and CD62L+ cells in the endometrium in early pregnancy. In the mid of pregnancy, there was an increase of WC1+ and CD14+ cells. At the end of pregnancy, there was an increase of CD14+, CD25+, CD18+ and CD62L+. In conclusion, our data suggest that the maternal immune system is modulated according to the stage of pregnancy in the cow. In early pregnancy, there is an increased number of endometrial CD25+ cells that may reflect the activation of local immune response and recruitment of putative T-reg cells to the endometrium for an active establishment of maternal tolerance to fetal antigens. While, in mid pregnancy there is a massive recruitment of &#947;&#948T-cells and CD14+ to the pregnant endometrium perhaps to maintain an tolerogenic microenvironment and to promote tissue remodeling for proper fetal development and growth. Finally, in late pregnancy, there is a recruitment of effector immune cells such as CD62L+, CD18 and CD14+ cells associated with an increased expression of proinflammatory cytokines (i.e. IFNG, IL-6) to play a role on induction of parturition and uterine involution in the cow

O sistema imunológico materno desempenha um papel importante no estabelecimento da gestação e desenvolvimento de concepto até início do parto. A hipótese deste projeto é que há um recrutamento de células T&#947;&#948 para o endométrio ao longo da gestação que expressam citocinas que favorecem o estabelecimento e manutenção da tolerância materna a antígenos fetais durante a gestação em bovinos. Experimento I Para estudar a dinâmica populacional das células do sistema imune no sangue periférico de não lactantes não prenhes (NLNP), vacas lactantes no 1º trimestre e vacas no 3º trimestre da gestação, as PBMCs foram separadas por gradiente de densidade de Ficoll, seguido por protocolo de imunocitoquímica e analisadas em citômetro de fluxo para os anticorpos CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD14+, CD25+ e WC1+. As células analisadas tanto na região de linfócitos quanto na região de monócitos, não apresentaram diferença significativa entre os grupos analisados. Experimento II Para análise do perfil de expressão gênica das células T&#947;&#948, foram coletadas amostras de sangue de vacas no 1º trimestre da gestação, vacas lactantes não prenhes (LNP) e vacas não lactantes não prenhes (NLNP). As células mononucleares foram separadas por gradiente de densidade de Ficoll e células T&#947;&#948 foram analisadas quanto ao perfil de citocinas por qRT-PCR para os genes IFNG; IL10; IL15; IL17; IL18; IL1B; IL4; IL-6; ISG15; PFR; TGFB2 e TNFA. A análise de expressão gênica mostrou tendência no aumento na expressão de IL1B, IL6 e TGFB2 em células PBMC em vacas NLNP quando comparado com vacas LNP e no 1º trimestre da gestação, enquanto que os outros genes analisados não apresentaram diferença significativa. Experimento III Fragmentos de endométrio, provenientes de abatedouro, foram coletados de vacas em 1º trimestre (33 a 35 dias de gestação), 2º trimestre (143 a 182 dias de gestação) e 3º trimestre de gestação (228 a 247 dias de gestação). Cortes congelados foram imunolocalizados e quantificados para as células do sistema imune CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD14+, CD18+, CD25+, CD62L+ e WC1+ por imunofluorescência. Nossos estudos mostraram aumento das células CD25+ e CD62L+ no endométrio no início da gestação. No meio da gestação, há um aumento das células WC1+ e CD14+. No final da gestação, observamos o aumento de CD14+, CD25+, CD18+ e CD62L+. Em suma, nossos dados sugerem que a modulação do sistema imune materno é específica para cada estágio da gestação, sendo que no início da gestação há um envolvimento de células T ativadas (CD25+) provavelmente para o estabelecimento de uma resposta ativa para tolerância dos antígenos fetais. Já no meio da gestação, há um recrutamento massivo de células T&#947;&#948 para o endométrio gravídico provavelmente para manter um microambiente de tolerância para o desenvolvimento fetal e no final da gestação células efetoras como macrófagos são recrutadas para o endométrio para auxiliar no processo do parto e involução uterina. / The maternal immune system plays an important role on the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy until the onset of parturition in mammals. Our hypothesis is that there is a recruitment of &#947;&#948T-cell to the endometrium during pregnancy. These cells express a particular cytokine profile that is important to the establishment and maintenance of maternal toleranceto fetal antigens in cattle. Experiment I - To study the population dynamics of immune cells in the peripheral blood of NLNP, 1st and 3rd trimester of pregnancy, PBMCs were separated by Ficoll density gradient and the abundance of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD14+, CD25+ and WC1+ was analyzed by single-color flow cytometry. There was no statistical difference of the abundance of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ and CD25+ among groups of cows. Experiment II To analyze the gene expression profile of 1st trimester, LNP and NLNP. PBMCs were isolated by Ficoll density gradient and &#947;&#948T-cells (WC1+) were enriched by magnetic cell sorting. Both PBMC and WC1+ cells gene expression was analyzed for IFNG; IL10; IL15; IL17; IL18; IL1B; IL4; IL-6; ISG15; PFR; TGFB2 and TNFA by qRT-PCR. Gene expression analysis showed increased expression of the IL1B, IL6 and TGFB2 in PBMC in NLNP compared with 1st trimester of pregnancy and LNP cows, while other genes analyzed showed no significant difference. Experiment III fragments of endometrium were collected from cows at the early (33 to 35 days of pregnancy), mid (143 to 182 days of pregnancy) and late pregnancy (228 to 247 days of pregnancy). Endometrial immune cells were quantified (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD14+, CD18+, CD25+, CD62L+, and WC1+) by single-color immunofluorescence. There was an increase CD25+ and CD62L+ cells in the endometrium in early pregnancy. In the mid of pregnancy, there was an increase of WC1+ and CD14+ cells. At the end of pregnancy, there was an increase of CD14+, CD25+, CD18+ and CD62L+. In conclusion, our data suggest that the maternal immune system is modulated according to the stage of pregnancy in the cow. In early pregnancy, there is an increased number of endometrial CD25+ cells that may reflect the activation of local immune response and recruitment of putative T-reg cells to the endometrium for an active establishment of maternal tolerance to fetal antigens. While, in mid pregnancy there is a massive recruitment of &#947;&#948T-cells and CD14+ to the pregnant endometrium perhaps to maintain an tolerogenic microenvironment and to promote tissue remodeling for proper fetal development and growth. Finally, in late pregnancy, there is a recruitment of effector immune cells such as CD62L+, CD18 and CD14+ cells associated with an increased expression of proinflammatory cytokines (i.e. IFNG, IL-6) to play a role on induction of parturition and uterine involution in the cow