title: Serious foetal growth restriction is associated with reduced proportions of natural killer cells in decidua basalis.
abstract: Extravillous trophoblasts are major participants in placental development and remodelling of spiral arteries. Trophoblast invasion is regulated by maternal immune cells, and abnormal leucocyte subpopulation composition has been reported in implantation failure. In pre-eclampsia (PE), with or without foetal growth restriction (FGR), superficial trophoblast invasion and insufficient remodelling of spiral arteries are common findings. In the present study, we have compared spiral artery remodelling and leucocyte composition in decidual tissue from 30 cases (PE=8, FGR=5, PE + FGR=17) and 31 controls. Six histological remodelling criteria were established, and each pregnancy obtained a remodelling score. Numbers of natural killer (NK) cells (CD56+), T cells (CD3+) and activated (CD25+ or CD69+) leucocytes were determined and related to total leucocyte (CD45+) numbers in serial sections. Cases demonstrated significantly impaired spiral artery remodelling, inappropriate placental growth and reduced NK cell proportions, as compared to controls (P=0.02, P<0.001 and P=0.01, respectively). Reduced NK cell proportion was primarily found in pregnancies complicated by FGR, with or without PE, and a significant positive correlation was observed between NK cell proportion, trophoblast infiltration and placental growth. Our in vivo observations support the hypothesized association between NK cells, impaired placental development and pathogenesis of PE/FGR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Medisinsk Teknisk Forskningssenter, Olav Kyrres gt. 3, Trondheim, Norway. irina.p.eide@ntnu.no
authors.forename: Irina P
authors.initials: IP
authors.lastname: Eide
authors.forename: Toril
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rolfseng
authors.forename: Christina V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Isaksen
authors.forename: Reidun
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mecsei
authors.forename: Borghild
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Roald
authors.forename: Stian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lydersen
authors.forename: Kjell A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Salvesen
authors.forename: Nina K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Harsem
authors.forename: Rigmor
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Austgulen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D001158:Arteries / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D003656:Decidua / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009929:Organ Size; D010920:Placenta / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D010929:Placentation; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015415:Biomarkers