The possible role of virus-specific CD8(+) memory T cells in decidual tissue.
The most abundant lymphocyte present in decidual tissue is the CD8(+) T cell. It has been shown that most decidual CD8(+) T cells have an effector-memory phenotype, but expressed reduced levels of perforin and granzyme B compared with the peripheral CD8(+) effector-memory T cells. The specificity of these CD8(+) memory T cells has yet to be determined. One hypothesis is that the decidual memory T cells are virus-specific T cells that should protect the fetus against incoming pathogens. As virus-specific CD8(+) memory T cells can cross-react with human leukocyte alloantigens, an alternative, but not mutually exclusive, hypothesis is that these CD8(+) T cells are fetus-specific. Using virus-specific tetramers, we found increased percentages of virus-specific CD8(+) T cells in decidual tissue compared with peripheral blood after uncomplicated pregnancy. So far, no evidence has been obtained for a cross-reactive response of these virus-specific T cells to fetal human leukocyte antigens. These results suggest that the virus-specific memory T cells accumulate in the placenta to protect the fetus from a harmful infection.
Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands; Department of Obstetrics, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands. Electronic address: A.van_Lochem@lumc.nl.
A
A
van Egmond
Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands.
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C
van der Keur
Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands.
G M J S
GM
Swings
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands.
S A
SA
Scherjon
Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands.
F H J
FH
Claas
D000328:Adult; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D003656:Decidua / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange / Q000276:immunology; D010920:Placenta / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000276:immunology*; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000276:immunology
CD8(+) memory T cells; Decidua; Human; Normal pregnancy; Virus-specific