title: Isolation of decidual lymphocytes from chorionic villus samples: phenotypic analysis and growth in vitro.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Giemsa stained cell isolates prepared from chorionic villus samples (CVS) contain granulated cells morphologically similar to large granular lymphocytes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Phenotypic characterization of these cellular isolates by two-color immunofluorescence and subsequent in vitro culture in the presence of recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) were done in order to determine whether CVS could serve as a source of decidual lymphocytes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A major fraction of the CVS-derived lymphocytes were characterized as decidual NK cells, exhibiting high levels of CD56 expression (CD56+bright), without concomitant expression of CD16. The T cell population present in CVS-derived lymphocytes contained both CD4+ and CD8+ cells in a ratio somewhat reduced compared to that found in peripheral blood. While both T cells and CD56+bright cells from CVS proliferate in vitro in response to rIL-2 alone, preferential growth of CD56+bright cells was accomplished using a selective culture technique wherein co-culture with an irradiated, B lymphoblastoid cell line promoted the growth of CD56+ cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CVS contains decidual NK cells and T cells that proliferate in response to rIL-2 and/or third party stimulator cells. These culture techniques will allow investigations into the maturation and/or activation of decidual NK cells and T cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Haynes
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Flanagan
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Perussia
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology; D019002:CD56 Antigen; D002469:Cell Separation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002824:Chorionic Villi / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003656:Decidua / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping / Q000379:methods; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000502:physiology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D019002:CD56 Antigen; D007376:Interleukin-2