Table 5.
Changes in systemic T- and B- regulatory cells during normal pregnancy.
| Component | Main Findings | References |
|---|---|---|
| T regulatory cells | ||
| Increased proportion of T regulatory cells during early pregnancy, peaking in the second trimester and declining in the third trimester. | 238, 250 | |
| Higher percentage of CD4+CD25dim T cells in samples obtained at term (>37 weeks) as compared to 17–24 weeks, while no significant changes in CD4+CD25bright T cells. | 251 | |
| Increased CD4+CD25bright T cells during early pregnancy compared to non-pregnant women, from 6% to 8%. | 249 | |
| Decreased number of CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ T cells from 5 to 23 weeks gestation, then increased during 24–30 weeks gestation, then declined after 31 weeks until term. | 252 | |
| B regulatory cells | ||
| Lower absolute levels of IL-10-producing B cells and CD24hiCD38hi B regulatory cells during the third trimester and on delivery day than those in the post-partum women. | 174 | |
| Increased CD19+CD24hiCD27+ B cells in the first trimester as compared to non-pregnant women. | 253 | |