Characterization of macrophages isolated from the maternal surface of human term placenta by a new method of urokinase treatment.
OBJECTIVE
This study was performed to establish a new method for isolating macrophages from the maternal surface of human term placenta by urokinase treatment and to characterize their immunological functions.


METHODS
Macrophages were recovered from the maternal surface of 6 human term placentas by urokinase treatment, adherence to plastic, and density gradient centrifugation using Percoll. The cells retrieved were tested for their surface markers by immunofluorescent staining. Their antigen-presenting capacity was examined by use of a mixed lymphocytes culture (MLC) test. In 2 cases, human leucocyte antigen (HLA) typing was performed.


RESULTS
An average of 4 x 10(6) macrophage-like cells were obtained per whole placenta. More than 90% of them were positive for CD14, HLA-DR, and DQ surface antigens. An MLC test revealed that they had antigen-presenting capacity. Of the 6 cases, 2 showed positive MLC test results with maternal peripheral-blood mononuclear cells. In 1 of the 2 cases, macrophages with paternal HLA phenotypes were identified.


CONCLUSIONS
The urokinase treatment is a new useful method for isolating macrophages from the maternal surface of human term placenta. Using this method, we obtained macrophages of paternal HLA phenotypes (fetal origin) that might have migrated to the maternal surface of human term placenta.
Shiokawa
H
H
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagoshima University, Japan.
Fujino
T
T
Yashiki
S
S
Nagata
Y
Y
Sonoda
S
S
D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods*; D002499:Centrifugation, Density Gradient; D005260:Female; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000032:analysis; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D010920:Placenta / Q000166:cytology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator
D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator; D007213:Indomethacin