Dendritic Cells in the Human Decidua

Abstract

Dendritic cells (DCs) in the pregnant human uterine mucosa have been poorly characterized, although they are likely to regulate immune responses to both placental trophoblast cells and uterine infections. In this study an HLA-DR+, CD11c+ lin- (CD3-, CD19-, CD56-, CD14-) population has been identified by three-color flow cytometry. The cell isolates were prepared either by collagenase digestion or mechanically from first-trimester decidual tissue. The decidual DCs comprised approximately 1.7% of CD45+ cells in the isolates and had the phenotype of immature myeloid DCs. No CD1a+ Langerhans cells or CD123+ plasmacytoid DCs were detected. The decidual DCs were DC-SIGN-, DEC-205+, CD40+. Two subsets could be distinguished on the basis of relative expression of HLA-DR, which also differed in expression of DC-activation markers. The DCs were identified in situ by immunohistology by DEC-205 staining. Cells with dendritic processes were found scattered through both the decidua basalis (in which trophoblast cells are infiltrating) and the decidua parietalis. They were also visible in endothelial-lined spaces. This is the first study to identify and describe the phenotype and distribution of human decidual DCs.

Identification and hormonal regulation of a novel form of NKp30 in human endometrial epithelium

“…We can also hypothesize that the increase in the expression of NKp30 may be one of the pathways that results in the significant increase of mature DC seen in the late-secretory stage of the menstrual cycle [26][27][28][29]. These data also suggest a mechanism for how the epithelium may initiate the process of establishing immune tolerance in the decidua, at the time of trophoblast invasion.…”

“…Endometrial epithelium has been shown to have antigen-presenting ability, a capability that is under hormonal control [22][23][24]. Recent studies have shown that the numbers of mature and immature DC significantly increase in endometrium during the latesecretory phase and early pregnancy [25][26][27][28][29]. These observations raise the possibility that NKp30 may have a role in promoting immune tolerance while maintaining immune surveillance in the endometrium during embryo implantation.…”

Immune cells in the placental bed

“…Both mature (CD83+) and immature (CD83-) dendritic cells have been identified in human uterine tissues (Kammerer et al, 2000). There appears to be several related immature dendritic cell types some of which are DC-SIGN+CD14+ and others DC-SIGN-CD14-DEC205+ (Gardner and Moffett, 2003;Kammerer et a., 2003). It is proposed that DC-SIGN+ cells are precursors of both macrophages and dendritic cells (Soilleux et al, 2002).…”

“…Numbers of CD1a+ but not CD83+ cells increased between proliferative and secretory phases. Gardner and Moffett (2003) primarily used flow cytometry analysis to demonstrate and characterise the dendritic cell population in early pregnancy decidua. Immunohistochemical analysis using DEC-205 and CD83 demonstrated that the majority of these cells were associated with lymphoid aggregates, lymphatic vessels and venules (Gardner and Moffett, 2003).…”

Liaison between natural killer cells and dendritic cells in human gestation

“…17 Following conception, first trimester human decidual tissue contains mainly DCs of myeloid origin, but not plasmacytoid DCs. 20,64 mDCs are further subdivided into a predominant population of immature DC-SIGN 1 cells, which increase during pregnancy development, 18 and a smaller population of mature CD83-expressing cells. 5,17 These observations suggest that full decidualization in response to the implantation and placentation processes is associated with a decline in CD83 1 cells and an increase in DC-SIGN 1 DCs.…”