[Study on the expression of Fas ligand on the surfaces of human cytotrophoblasts in normal pregnancy].
OBJECTIVE
To further study the mechanism of maternal-fetal immune tolerance.


METHODS
Chorioplacental tissues were obtained from different gestation stages of normal pregnancy. Immunohistochemistry was used to investigate the expression of Fas Ligand (FasL) on the surfaces of human cytotrophoblasts. Highly precise color-image measure system for immuno-histochemistry was used for quantitative analysis.


RESULTS
FasL were expressed on the surfaces of placental cytotrophoblasts throughout normal pregnancy. FasL staining areas on cytotrophoblasts of the first trimester, second trimester and term were (91.410 +/- 8.328) micron 2, (101.322 +/- 11.480) micron 2 and (97.461 +/- 10.517) micron 2 respectively; Average brightness FasL staining were 0.227 +/- 0.0325, 0.261 +/- 0.021, 0.145 +/- 0.015; and integral brightness were 21.391 +/- 4.636, 25.993 +/- 6.231, 18.588 +/- 3.897 respectively. The differences among the first, second and term pregnancy stages were significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Like many immune-privileged sites, the maternal specific fas+ T cell apoptosis induced by FasL on the maternal-fetal interface might be one of the significant mechanisms of maternal-fetal immune tolerance. The expression of FasL on the surfaces of placental cytotrophoblasts plays an important role both in the maintenance of pregnancy and in the normal development of fetus.
Qiu
H
H
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Xiehe Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong Science and Technology University, Wuhan 430022, China.
Sun
Y
Y
D000328:Adult; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010920:Placenta / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy
C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins