Dendritic cells are equally distributed in intrauterine and tubal ectopic pregnancies.
OBJECTIVE
To examine different stages of dendritic cells (DCs) in intrauterine (IUPs) and viable tubal (VTPs) pregnancies to further elucidate mechanisms of fetomaternal tolerance and extravillous trophoblast invasion.


METHODS
Experimental study on patient-controlled material.


METHODS
University hospital.


METHODS
Seven women with normal IUPs and ten with VTPs in the first trimester.


METHODS
Suction curettage in IUP, laparoscopy in VTP.


METHODS
Immunohistochemistry for cytokeratin-7 (trophoblast), CD83 (mature DCs), DEC205 (activated but not fully mature DCs), DC-SIGN (immature macrophage-like DCs), and CD14 (macrophages) alone and in double staining.


RESULTS
The numbers of CD83+ and DEC205+ cells were similarly low in IUP and VTP (0.83 and 0.44 cells/mm2; 2.28 and 2.96 cells/mm2). The number of DC-SIGN+ cells was higher, though without significant differences among the entities examined (57.5 and 47.4 cells/mm2). About two-thirds of DC-SIGN+ cells were also CD14+ in IUP and VTP.


CONCLUSIONS
The almost equal distribution of CD83+, DEC205+, and DC-SIGN+ cells in IUP and VTP suggests analogue control mechanisms in intrauterine and extrauterine DC differentiation and a comparable role of these DCs for the development of fetomaternal tolerance.
Kemp
Birgit
B
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School, Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH), Aachen, Germany. bkemp@ukaachen.de
Schmitz
Svenja
S
Krusche
Claudia A
CA
Rath
Werner
W
von Rango
Ulrike
U
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000276:immunology; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053552:Keratin-7 / Q000378:metabolism; D037181:Lectins, C-Type / Q000378:metabolism; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015778:Minor Histocompatibility Antigens; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First / Q000276:immunology*; D011274:Pregnancy, Tubal / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D000097802:CD83 Antigen; D000099215:DC-Specific ICAM-3 Grabbing Nonintegrin
D015703:Antigens, CD; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D053552:Keratin-7; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D015778:Minor Histocompatibility Antigens; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D000097802:CD83 Antigen; D000099215:DC-Specific ICAM-3 Grabbing Nonintegrin; C093569:DEC-205 receptor