T-cell receptors are expressed but down-regulated on intradecidual T lymphocytes.
OBJECTIVE
Dietl et al. considered "intradecidual T cell tolerance towards fetal antigens" with their observation that intradecidual T cells lack immunohistochemically detectable amounts of T cell receptor (TCR) molecules while expressing normal amounts of CD3 molecules during early normal pregnancy (Am J Reprod Immunol. 1990; 24:33-36).


METHODS
To reevaluate these findings we examined the TCR and CD3 expression on intradecidual T cells using flow cytometry.


CONCLUSIONS
In our study, all intradecidual CD3+ T cells expressed either TCR alpha beta or TCR gamma delta. However, the expression of the CD3/TCR complex on intradecidual T cells was down-regulated. The level of CD3/TCR complex expression on intradecidual T cells was about two-thirds of that on peripheral blood T cells. Further, the proportions of alpha beta+ and gamma delta+ cells in CD3+ cells did not significantly differ between decidua and peripheral blood.
Morii
T
T
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Nara Medical University, Japan.
Nishikawa
K
K
Saito
S
S
Enomoto
M
M
Ito
A
A
Kurai
N
N
Shimoyama
T
T
Ichijo
M
M
Narita
N
N
D003656:Decidua / Q000276:immunology*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D017260:Receptor-CD3 Complex, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000032:analysis; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000032:analysis*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D017260:Receptor-CD3 Complex, Antigen, T-Cell; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell