Antigen-presenting cells in pregnant and non-pregnant human myometrium.
OBJECTIVE
Inflammatory cells play a crucial role in human parturition. Different populations of leucocytes invade the reproductive tract. Numerous studies have described the decidual immune cell population in pregnant and non-pregnant endometrium. However, little is known about the presence of immune cells in human myometrium.


METHODS
we herein analysed a spectrum of immune cells in human myometrium comparing tissue samples from non-pregnant (n = 8) and pregnant (n = 10) uteri. Applying immunohistochemistry with a panel of antibodies specific for T cells, monocytes, natural killer cells, B cells and antigen-presenting cells (CD4, CD8, CD14, CD15, CD16, CD19, CD56, CD68, CD83, HLA-DR, DC-Sign, mast cell tryptase), we characterized the immune cell population of human myometrium.


RESULTS
a significantly higher number of CD14, CD15, CD16, DC-SIGN as well as CD4-positive cells were found in myometrium of pregnant compared to non-pregnant uteri, while mast cells were significantly reduced in pregnant myometrium.


CONCLUSIONS
all markers found increased in pregnant myometrium indicate monocyte/macrophage lineage cells and thus suggest a possible involvement of these cells in healthy pregnancy maintenance. Monocytes/macrophages might produce a microenvironment that permits a controlled invasion of trophoblast cells into the myometrium while preventing a rejection of the semiallogenic conceptus and providing an important barrier against invading pathogenes.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Marina
M
Ivanisevic
Sabine
S
Segerer
Lorenz
L
Rieger
Michaela
M
Kapp
Johannes
J
Dietl
Ulrike
U
Kämmerer
Torsten
T
Frambach
D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009215:Myometrium / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D017698:Postmenopause; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000276:immunology
D015703:Antigens, CD; D015415:Biomarkers