title: Immunohistological characterization of the decidual leucocytic infiltrate related to endometrial gland epithelium in early human pregnancy.
abstract: The leucocytic infiltrate which is associated with maternal endometrial glands in decidual tissue in early human pregnancy has been shown by immunohistology to consist mainly of macrophages and T lymphocytes. Cells expressing HLA-DR were prominent around the glands, and most were also reactive for the Leu-M3 tissue macrophage antigen. In addition, HLA-DR-positive T cells were identified by double immunoenzymatic labelling, situated both immediately adjacent to the gland epithelium and in adjacent aggregates. Some accumulation of HLA-DR-positive cells has also been noted around the glands in non-pregnant endometrium during the mid and late secretory phases, and occasional T6 antigen-bearing cells were also detected. Occasional HLA-DR-positive surface and gland epithelial cells were observed in both pregnant and non-pregnant specimens. These results indicate that, in early human pregnancy, the endometrial glands may be subject to a form of active immune response partially under hormonal control.
mesh_terms: D002465:Cell Movement; D003656:Decidua / Q000276:immunology*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000276:immunology*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II