ORIGINAL ARTICLE: The Increase in Metallothionein and Ectopic Decidual Immunoreactivity with Respect to the Progression of Labor at Term and the Lack of Analogical Changes in Placental Abruption

Abstract

MT in decidual cells seems to be responsible for the proper coexistence between decidual cells and activated immune cells that infiltrate both eutopic and ectopic decidua during cesarean section and PA.

Expression of Metallothioneins in Placental and Fetal Tissues in Undisturbed and PGM-Zn Treated Syngeneic Pregnancy

“…Besides, it should be taken into account that MTs participate also in immunoregulation [58][59][60], providing the protection against immune-mediated apoptosis [61] and participating in induction of local immune tolerance that is regulated by the controlled expression of hormones, cytokines and growth factors of maternal and fetal origin [4][5][6][7][8]. The hypothesis is supported also by findings that insufficient MT expression might induce tubal rupture, caused by elevation of CD56-positive cell numbers and increase in immune cell activity during the ectopic pregnancy in humans [61], as well as with observation that MTs in decidual cells ensure the proper coexistence between decidual cells and activated immune cells both in eutopic and ectopic pregnancy [9].…”

“…A number of evidence shows that in these events important roles may have also metallothioneins (MTs) [9][10][11][12][13], which are PGM-Zn Treated Syngeneic Pregnancy phylogenetically conserved proteins involved in a broad spectrum of crucial biologic functions related with the proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and immunoregulation [14][15][16][17][18][19][20]. Namely, owing to their potent metal-binding and redox capabilities they promptly react on zinc and copper dyshomeostasis, on changes in oxidoreductive cellular metabolism and hormonal status, as well as on environmental toxins, proinflammatory signals and oxidative or nitrative stress that may appear in maternal uterine environment and during the fetal growth.…”

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Changes in the Subpopulation of CD25+ CD4+ and FOXP3+ Regulatory T Cells in Decidua with Respect to the Progression of Labor at Term and the Lack of Analogical Changes in the Subpopulation of Suppressive B7‐H4+ Macrophages – A Preliminary Report

“…In contrast to Tilburg, who in his study analysed healthy women after uncomplicated pregnancies without noting the stage of the labor in which the decidual samples were collected, we analysed decidua obtained during cesarean sections performed during the various stages of labor. Decidua obtained during the various stages of labor can provide the necessary information to establish a research model for the analysis of the molecular changes that occur in the decidua basalis as labor progresses (Such a research model was also applied in our previous studies concerning the molecular changes in the decidua during labor 18,20,38 ) As we evaluated the presence of Treg cells during three different phases of the first stage of the labor, we were able to demonstrate a decrease in the number of FOXP3 positive cells within the CD4 + CD25 + lymphocyte subpopulation, as the labor advanced.…”

“…Furthermore, the patients were divided into three subgroups according to the progression of labor at the time of the cesarean (we have also used this division in our recent studies concerning the regulation of immune system activity during labor 18,20,38 ) Patients with multiple pregnancies or existing complications of pregnancy (such as pre-term deliveries, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus) were excluded from this study, as were cases of fetal demise. The women in our study were selected from those undergoing such cesarean sections between January and December of 2007 in the Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Oncology at the Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland.…”

“…The following conditions were indications for performing a cesarean: fetal malpresentation (mainly breech presentation), repeat cesarean section, cephalopelvic disproportion, myoma, and myopia. Furthermore, the patients were divided into three subgroups according to the progression of labor at the time of the cesarean (we have also used this division in our recent studies concerning the regulation of immune system activity during labor 18,20,38 ) Patients with multiple pregnancies or existing complications of pregnancy (such as pre-term deliveries, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus) were excluded from this study, as were cases of fetal demise. The tissue samples were obtained from patients during curettage of the decidua basalis just after effecting the placenta detachment during cesarean section.…”