Laboratory of Reproductive Immunology

Main topic:

Investigation of immunological mechanisms accompanying reproductive processes in physiological and pathological conditions.

Specific topics:

Investigation of immunological mechanisms accompanying reproductive processes in physiological and pathological conditions in humans and in a mouse model:

  • Study of early miscarriages in women; examination of peripheral T and B lymphocytes in the etiopathogenesis of abortion;
  • Early embryonic signals in the pre-implantation period of pregnancy in mice;
  • Study of pregnancy in murine abortion prone model;
  • Examination of normal pregnancy in a mouse model;
  • Study of pseudopregnacy in a mouse model;

Etiopathogenesis of endometriosis:

  • the role of endometrial basal layer cells and peripheral T and B lymphocytes in the etiopathogenesis of endometriosis

Contact

Laboratory Head

Head: prof. dr hab. Anna Chełmońska-Soyta; 0000-0001-7360-3257 Prof. Anna Chelmonska-Soyta earned her PhD degree at Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences in the area of veterinary immunology.  After her postdoctoral fellowship in Ontario Veterinary College, the University of Guelph in Canada she started her investigation on preimplantation bovine embryos interactions with ureaplasmas. The results of the research were the basis for her habilitation degree and they were awarded by the Ministry of National Education award. Then she received a position in Hirszfeld Insitute of Immunoloy and Experimental Therapy PAS in Wroclaw as the head of Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology.

In 2012 she was awarded the professor title. Prof. Chelmonska-Soyta research is focused on elucidating the nature and role of early embryo signaling in the maintenance of pregnancy immune tolerance.

The main areas of research emphasis in prof. Chelmonska -Soyta lab involved: the costimulatory potential of B cells in early pregnancy and during the natural abortion in women and abortion prone mouse model, the role of interleukin 35 in pregnancy immune tolerance, the role of Treg and Breg cells in early pregnancy, and a role of interleukin 33 and 35 in endometriosis. Prof. Chelmonska-Soyta has mentored eight PhD students, over 20 master students, and post-docs.

Team

Scientific Staff

Specialists:

PhD Students:

Most important scientific achievements
  • In mice, splenic immune cells are aware of the presence of paternal antigens before embryo implantation, which manifests in the increased costimulatory potential of antigen-presenting cells including B lymphocytes and different proteome of CD4+
  • The maternal organism can distinguish embryos with diverse developmental potentials already in the preimplantation period both in the local (uterus) and peripheral (spleen) compartment. Peripheral lymphocytes in particular helper lymphocytes can serve as biological sensors of embryo quality upon implantation.
  • Antigenic epitopes of T regulatory lymphocytes (tregitopes) modulate tolerogenic response in abortion prone mice and rescue compromised pregnancy. Tregitopes may be a potential tool for therapeutic intervention in cases of immune-mediated pregnancy failures.
Research methods
  • Cell determination and immunophenotyping using multi-parameter flow cytometry (extracellular and intracellular antigens, antigens in fluids)
  • Cell sorting (by magnetic and cytometric methods)
  • Determination of the level of biological substances by ELISA method
  • Evaluation of protein expression by western-blotting
  • Assessment of the reproductive status of mice (swab smears)
  • Control the reproductive cycle of mice
  • Cultivation and evaluation of embryos in the pre-implantation period of their development (mice, cattle)
  • Mouse embryos transplantation by the bloodless method
  • Isolation and primary culture of human endometrial cells
  • Isolation and cultivation of stem cells
  • Primary and established cell culture
  • Molecular biology techniques and gene expression assessment: PCR and Real-Time PCR
Key equipment
  • Safety class II laminar chamber
  • Laboratory centrifuges
  • CO2 incubator for the cultivation of mammalian cells
  • PCR thermocycler
  • Western-Blot equipment
  • Olympus SZ61TR stereo microscope
  • Nikon Eclipse E-200 microscope
  • Nikon inverted microscope

Most important projects (during the last 10 years)
Current projects:
  • “Elements of the HLA Class I Antigen Processing Machinery as Factors Involved in the Pathomechanism and Course of Endometriosis”, funder: National Science Center (NCN) OPUS (2022-2026)  – project leader: professor Iza Nowak
Completed projects:
  • Studies on potential significance of yolkin, an egg yolk-derived protein, in maturation, enhancement and regulation of the immune system function, funder: National Science Center (NCN) OPUS (2022-2026) – project leader: professor Michał Zimecki
  • „Significance of IL-35 expression and its polymorphisms in pregnancy and the miscarriage risk” funder: National Science Center (NCN) SONATA (2020-2024) – project leader: PhD Anna Sławek
  • ,,B cell TLR9 receptor in regulation of immune tolerance in pregnancy” funder: National Science Center (NCN) PRELUDIUM (2018-2021)- project leader: MSc Daria Lorek
  • „Bio-nanosatellite using miniaturized lab-on-chip instruments and methodology of conducting bio-medical research with its use in microgravity.” funder: National Centre for Research and Development (NCBiR) (2019- 2021)
  • „Tregitopes as a novel immunoregulators of pregnancy tolerance in mouse abortion prone model” funder: National Science Center (NCN) PRELUDIUM (2015-2019) – project leader: MSc Anna Kędzierska
  • „Study of the frequency of T regulatory lymphocytes producing IL-35 (Breg 35) in normal and abortion prone murine pregnancy model” funder: The Leading National Research Centre (KNOW) (2017-2018)- project leader: PhD Anna Sławek
  • ,,Multiparameter characterization control the homeostasis of the reproductive system by epithelial cells gamma-delta T taking into account the high resolution microscopy intravital”, funder: National Science Center (NCN) SONATA BIS (2015-2020)- project leader: PhD Grzegorz Chodaczek, project implemented in cooperation with the EIT+
  • ,,Expression of genes for TLR receptors and costimulatory molecules in peripheral antigen presenting cells in normal and abortion prone murine pregnancy model” funder: The Leading National Research Centre (KNOW) (2016-2017)- project leader: Professor Anna Chełmońska-Soyta
Selected publications
  • Slawek A, Kubik P, Lorek D, Kedzierska AE, Spetany M, Studzinska-Kalota U, Chelmonska-Soyta A. IL-35-Producing Regulatory B Cells Are Positively Correlated with iTr35 Cells in Healthy Pregnancy with Altered Associations Following Pregnancy Loss. Int J Mol Sci. 2026 Oct 16;27(20):9207. (doi: 10.3390/ijms27209207)
  • Lorek D, Kedzierska AE, Slawek A, Kubik P, Chelmonska-Soyta A: TLR9 Inhibition Shortly After Mating Increases Fetal Resorption and Alters B- and T-Cell Costimulatory Phenotypes in an Abortion-Prone Mouse Model. Int J Mol Sci. 2026 Jan 14;27(2):848. (doi: 10.3390/ijms27020848)
  • Slawek A, Kubik P, Psurski M, Kedzierska AE, Chelmonska-Soyta A: The recombinant IL-35 and anti-Ebi3 antibody administration before implantation modulate immune regulation and fetal outcomes in an abortion-prone mouse model. Front Immunol. 2025 Nov 19;16:1648641 (doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1648641)
  • Kedzierska AE, Lorek D, Slawek A, Karmowski M, Kalota A, Pajak J, Chrobak A, Grzymajlo K, Chelmonska-Soyta A: IL-24 producing regulatory T and B lymphocytes in endometriosis. Front Immunol. 2025 Jun 18;16:1582762. (doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1582762)
  • Slawek Anna, Lorek Daria, Kedzierska Anna Ewa, Kubik Paulina, Pająk Jarosław, Chrobak Agnieszka, Chełmońska-Soyta Anna: Peripheral blood subpopulations of Bregs producing IL-35 in women with endometriosis. Am J Reprod Immunol. 2023;89(3):e13675. (doi: 10.1111/aji.13675)
  • Skulska K, Kędzierska AE, Krzyżowska M, Chodaczek G: Age-Related Changes in Female Murine Reproductive Mucosa with respect to γδ T Cell Presence. J Immunol Res. 2023 Jan 23;2023:3072573. (doi: 10.1155/2023/3072573)
  • Lis-Kuberka J, Kubik P, Chrobak A, Pająk J, Chełmońska-Soyta A, Orczyk-Pawiłowicz M. Fibronectin Molecular Status in Plasma of Women with Endometriosis and Fertility Disorders. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Oct 22;22(21):11410. (doi: 10.3390/ijms222111410)
  • Kedzierska AE, Lorek D, Slawek A, Grabowski T, Chelmonska-Soyta A: CD91 Derived Treg Epitope Modulates Regulatory T Lymphocyte Response, Regulates Expression of Costimulatory Molecules on Antigen-Presenting Cells, and Rescues Pregnancy in Mouse Pregnancy Loss Model. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2021; 22(14):7296. (doi: 10.3390/ijms22147296)
  • Kedzierska AE, Lorek D, Slawek A, Chelmonska-Soyta A.: Tregitopes regulate the tolerogenic immune response and decrease the foetal death rate in abortion-prone mouse matings. Sci Rep, 2020, 10(1): 10531 (http://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-66957-z)
  • Slawek A, Lorek D, Kedzierska AE, Chelmonska-Soyta A: Regulatory B cells with IL-35 and IL-10 expression in a normal and abortion-prone murine pregnancy model. Am J Reprod Immunol, 2020, 83(3): e13217 (http://doi.org/10.1111/aji.13217)