New Insights Into Il-4 and Foxp3 Expression in the Pathogenesis of Equid Alphaherpesvirus Abortion in the Balb/C Murine Model

Abstract

Most of the investigations using the murine model of Equid alphaherpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) infection have aimed at elucidating the pathogenesis of abortion caused by the virus, and the mechanisms were mainly associated with the general immune response and vascular changes. We examined whether some components of the local immune response to EHV-1 during pregnancy contribute to the pathogenesis of the abortion in infected pregnant mice. Twenty-six pregnant females were used. At day 13 of pregnancy, females were intranasally infected. Samples of lungs, uteri and placentas were processed for viral isolation and DNA detection by PCR. In addition, the levels of IL-4 and Foxp3 mRNA from uteri and placentas of infected and control mice were studied 3- and 4-days post-inoculation (pi) by real time PCR. Virus isolation and DNA detection were positive only in lungs of infected groups. A significant decrease in the expression of IL-4 and Foxp3 mRNA levels was found in the uteri and placentas 3- and 4-days pi, in comparison to the control group. Here, we showed changes in the local cytokine expression that may prove critical for understanding the pathogenesis of the abortion in horses and experimental models.