Methods for isolation of cells from the human fetal-maternal interface.
During human pregnancy, fetal placental cells known as trophoblast invade into the uterine mucosal lining, coming into contact with maternal cells including a specialized population of leukocytes. In order to understand the interaction of maternal cells with trophoblast, it is useful to be able to isolate the various cell types from the fetal-maternal interface so that they may be characterized and co-cultured in vitro. This chapter details the methods we use in our laboratory for enrichment and/or purification of trophoblast cells, decidual leukocytes, decidual natural killer cells, decidual stromal cells, and decidual glandular epithelial cells from human first-trimester tissue samples.
Trundley
Anita
A
Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Gardner
Lucy
L
Northfield
Jacquie
J
Chang
Chiwen
C
Moffett
Ashley
A
D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods*; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural; D007962:Leukocytes; D010920:Placenta / Q000166:cytology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014327:Trophoblasts