title: Mesenchymal stem cells reside in a vascular niche in the decidua basalis and are absent in remodelled spiral arterioles.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Maternal decidua basalis tissue attached to the placenta following delivery is a source of decidual mesenchymal stem cells (DMSCs). The in vitro characteristics of DMSCs have been partly defined but their in vivo function(s) are poorly understood. The anatomic location, or niche, provides clues regarding potential in vivo function(s) of DMSCs, but the niche has not been described.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cells were isolated from the decidua basalis and flow cytometric analyses showed the expected phenotypic profile for MSC cell surface markers. In vitro, the cells differentiated into adipocytes, osteocytes, and chondrocytes. DMSCs were then stained with antibodies by immunofluorescence detection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immunocytochemistry revealed that DMSCs were positive for FZD-9, STRO-1, 3G5, and α-SMA as expected and lacked expression of vWF and Ck7. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis showed the cultured cells were of maternal origin. Immunofluorescence was carried out on placental bed biopsies using the FZD-9, STRO-1, 3G5, and α-SMA antibodies. DMSCs were located in the vascular niche in decidua basalis. Immunofluorescence with antibodies to FZD-9, Ck7 and vWF revealed DMSCs in the vascular niche surrounding intact non-transformed spiral arterioles but DMSCs were absent in fully transformed spiral arterioles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Spiral arteriole remodelling is a critical feature of human pregnancy. The DMSC niche was investigated in fully transformed and non-transformed spiral arterioles. DMSCs have not been previously implicated in spiral arteriole remodelling. The absence of DMSCs around fully transformed spiral arterioles suggests they are a target for replacement or destruction by invading placental extravillous trophoblast cells, which carry out spiral arteriole remodelling.
authors.affiliation: University of Melbourne, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia; Pregnancy Research Centre, Department of Perinatal Medicine, Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Kusuma
authors.affiliation: Pregnancy Research Centre, Department of Perinatal Medicine, Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia; Centre for Genetic Diseases, Monash Institute of Medical Research, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia; Prince Henry's Institute of Medical Research, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Manuelpillai
authors.affiliation: King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, College of Science and Health Professions, King Abdulaziz Medical City, National Guard Health Affairs, Mail Code 3124, P.O. Box 3660, Riyadh 11481, Saudi Arabia; King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, College of Science and Health Professions, King Abdulaziz Medical City, National Guard Health Affairs, Mail Code 3124, P.O. Box 3660, Riyadh 11481, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Abumaree
authors.affiliation: Victorian Clinical Genetics Services (VCGS), Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Flemington Road, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia; University of Melbourne, Department of Paediatrics, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Pertile
authors.affiliation: University of Melbourne, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia; Pregnancy Research Centre, Department of Perinatal Medicine, Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Brennecke
authors.affiliation: University of Melbourne, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia; Pregnancy Research Centre, Department of Perinatal Medicine, Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia. Electronic address: bill.kalionis@thewomens.org.au.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kalionis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D001160:Arterioles / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003656:Decidua / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D010929:Placentation; D011247:Pregnancy; D055153:Stem Cell Niche; D066253:Vascular Remodeling
chemical_list: D000954:Antigens, Surface; D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: Decidua basalis; Mesenchymal stem cells; Pregnancy endometrium; Spiral arterioles; Vascular niche