Surfactant protein D in the female genital tract.
Surfactant protein D (SP-D) plays a role in innate immunity against various pathogens and in vivo studies have demonstrated that SP-D also has anti-inflammatory properties. SP-D was originally demonstrated in alveolar type II cells, but recent studies have shown extrapulmonary expression of SP-D indicating a systemic role for the protein. This study describes the presence of SP-D in the female genital tract, the placenta and in amniotic fluid using immunohistochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. SP-D was observed in cells lining surface epithelium and secretory glands in the vagina, cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries. In the placenta, SP-D was seen in all villous and extravillous trophoblast subpopulations. Endometrial presence of SP-D in non-pregnant women varied according to stage of the menstrual cycle and was up-regulated towards the secretory phase. It is suggested that endometrial SP-D may prevent intrauterine infection at the time of implantation and during pregnancy.
Leth-Larsen
R
R
Immunology and Microbiology, Institute of Medical Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Winsloewparken 21, DK-5000 Odense C, Denmark.
Floridon
C
C
Nielsen
O
O
Holmskov
U
U
D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D037663:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
D037663:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D