Specific subsets of immune cells in human decidua differ between normal pregnancy and preeclampsia - a prospective observational study

Lorenz Rieger,Sabine Segerer,Ann-Katrin Morr,Thomas Bernar,Ulrike Kämmerer,Michaela Kapp,Monika Majic,Johannes Dietl

doi:10.1186/1477-7827-7-132

Lorenz Rieger, Sabine Segerer + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7827-7-132

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Abstract

BackgroundChanges in the balance of decidual leucocyte populations may lead to an unfavourable uterine microenvironment which may be associated with the development of preeclampsia (PE). In this study, we therefore investigated the leucocyte subpopulations in decidual tissues of 33 women with preeclampsia and 66 control patients.MethodsDecidua was either obtained via curettage during cesarean section or dissected from the surface of the basal plate of the placenta after spontaneous delivery. We used FACS analysis to quantify decidual leukocytes (CD45), NK cells (CD56+/CD16+ and CD56++/CD16-), antigen presenting cells (HLA-DR, DC-Sign, CD14) and T/B cells (CD8, CD4, alpha-beta-T-cell receptor, gamma-delta-T-cell receptor, CD25, CD19).ResultsThe number of decidual cytotoxic CD8+T-lymphocytes (P < 0.02), alpha-beta -T-cell receptor positive T cells (P < 0.03) and of CD56+/CD16+ NK cells (P < 0.03) was lower in decidua from women with PE than in decidua from control patients.ConclusionThe observed reduction of specific leucocyte subsets could create a microenvironment which is unfavourable for an appropriate placentation and could thereby be involved in the development of preeclamptic symptoms.

Highlights

Changes in the balance of decidual leucocyte populations may lead to an unfavourable uterine microenvironment which may be associated with the development of preeclampsia (PE)
The following cell surface markers were investigated by FACS analysis: CD45, CD56, CD14, HLA-DR, dendritic cells (DCs)-Sign, http://www.rbej.com/content/7/1/132
When comparing the whole cell mixture derived from the decidual samples, we found that the overall number of CD45+ leukocytes was reduced - though only not significantly so in our study - in patients suffering from Preeclampsia group (PE)

Summary

Introduction

Changes in the balance of decidual leucocyte populations may lead to an unfavourable uterine microenvironment which may be associated with the development of preeclampsia (PE). We investigated the leucocyte subpopulations in decidual tissues of 33 women with preeclampsia and 66 control patients. Preeclampsia (PE) is a major clinical problem occuring in about 5% of all pregnancies. There is increasing evidence that immunologic incompatibilities between the mother and the developing placenta may play a major role: Multiparity and longer exposition to paternal semen prior to conception are known to decrease the risk of developing (page number not for citation purposes). The same holds true for certain combinations of maternal and paternal antigens or if a women opts for a surrogate mother [1,4]

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