Macrophages of human first trimester decidua express markers associated to alternative activation.
OBJECTIVE
Depending on the type of their activation, macrophages may promote TH1- or TH2-type of immune responses. To date, not much is known about the activation phenotype of decidua macrophages, which - together with NK cells - constitute the majority of bone marrow derived cells at this location.


METHODS
The study was based on analysis of healthy first trimester decidua by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. We analyzed expression of markers characteristic for alternatively activated macrophages (Mphi2).


RESULTS
The markers MS-1 (stabilin-1) and coagulation factor XIIIa were found expressed in the interior of decidua macrophages (DMphi). In contrast, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), an enzyme induced in macrophages by IFNgamma, was not present in DMphi.


CONCLUSIONS
First trimester DMphi display phenotypic markers associated to alternatively activated macrophages. In addition, absence of IDO indicates that DMphi are not under a predominant influence of IFNgamma.
Cupurdija
Kristijan
K
Institute of Histology and Embryology, Karl-Franzens-University, Graz, Austria.
Azzola
Dagmar
D
Hainz
Ursula
U
Gratchev
Alexei
A
Heitger
Andreas
A
Takikawa
Osamu
O
Goerdt
Sergij
S
Wintersteiger
Reinhold
R
Dohr
Gottfried
G
Sedlmayr
Peter
P
D015415:Biomarkers; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D003656:Decidua / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D049308:Dioxygenases; D015944:Factor VIIIa / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D050503:Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D008262:Macrophage Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D010105:Oxygenases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D016201:Receptors, Lymphocyte Homing
D015415:Biomarkers; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal; D050503:Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase; D016201:Receptors, Lymphocyte Homing; C449926:STAB1 protein, human; D015944:Factor VIIIa; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D010105:Oxygenases; D049308:Dioxygenases