Demonstration of the ability of Hofbauer cells to phagocytose exogenous antibodies.
We have studied the effects of the anti-human chorionic gonadotropin and anti-human antithrombin III antibodies on Hofbauer cells from human immature placenta, when applied to either intact villi or on cell culture. Trypsin treatment of the villi results in a mixed cell culture mainly composed of isolated Hofbauer cells but which also contains a variable number of mesenchymal cells and a few syncytiotrophoblastic cells. In all samples analysed only 7-8% of the Hofbauer cells and some syncytiotrophoblastic cells exhibited a macrophagic activity 24 h after incubation of the cultures with the antisera. That only certain proportions of Hofbauer and syncytiotrophoblastic cells express macrophagic activity is also seen when intact villi are incubated for 24 h with these antibodies. Indeed, neither all the villi nor all these cells within a single villus are positively stained. The fact that only a fraction of Hofbauer cells and syncytiotrophoblast express a macrophagic activity may suggest that only some cells, amongst both these cell types, are involved in the protection of the fetus against maternal immunological rejection by removing immunological complexes.
Frauli
M
M
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Basle, Switzerland.
Ludwig
H
H
D000990:Antithrombin III / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002824:Chorionic Villi / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology*; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000276:immunology
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D007106:Immune Sera; D000990:Antithrombin III