Immunohistological characterization of lymphoid cell populations in the early human placental bed.
The distribution of leukocytes in first trimester human decidual tissue has been studied by using a panel of monoclonal antibodies in an indirect immunoperoxidase technique on acetone-fixed cryostat sections. The results indicate that bone marrow-derived cells are abundant in the placental bed and a proportion of these are HLA-DR positive. However, a major leukocyte population in the decidua of early pregnancy is of cells which carry the E-rosette receptor but which do not express peripheral pan-T cell antigens nor HLA-DR. The distribution of these cells suggests that they are endometrial granulocytes. A similar large number of cells express OKT 10, a marker of immature or activated cells. The presence of this unusual T lineage cell raises the possibility that a form of lymphocyte processing is occurring in the decidua in early pregnancy, perhaps in response to foetal antigens presented on trophoblast.
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D003656:Decidua / Q000276:immunology*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II