title: Specific subsets of immune cells in human decidua differ between normal pregnancy and preeclampsia--a prospective observational study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Changes in the balance of decidual leucocyte populations may lead to an unfavourable uterine microenvironment which may be associated with the development of preeclampsia (PE). In this study, we therefore investigated the leucocyte subpopulations in decidual tissues of 33 women with preeclampsia and 66 control patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Decidua was either obtained via curettage during cesarean section or dissected from the surface of the basal plate of the placenta after spontaneous delivery. We used FACS analysis to quantify decidual leukocytes (CD45), NK cells (CD56+/CD16+ and CD56++/CD16-), antigen presenting cells (HLA-DR, DC-Sign, CD14) and T/B cells (CD8, CD4, alpha-beta-T-cell receptor, gamma-delta-T-cell receptor, CD25, CD19).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of decidual cytotoxic CD8+T-lymphocytes (P < 0.02), alpha-beta -T-cell receptor positive T cells (P < 0.03) and of CD56+/CD16+ NK cells (P < 0.03) was lower in decidua from women with PE than in decidua from control patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The observed reduction of specific leucocyte subsets could create a microenvironment which is unfavourable for an appropriate placentation and could thereby be involved in the development of preeclamptic symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str, 4, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Lorenz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rieger
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Segerer
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bernar
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kapp
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Majic
authors.forename: Ann-Katrin
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Morr
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dietl
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kämmerer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002452:Cell Count; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003656:Decidua / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000166:cytology* / Q000473:pathology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy