Profiling Chemokines, Cytokines and Growth Factors in Human Early Pregnancy Decidua By Protein Array

Abstract

The observed pattern supports the role of decidua as a tissue which promotes angiogenesis, attracts monocytes and modulates the function of the latter.

Macrophages at the Fetal–Maternal Interface Express Markers of Alternative Activation and Are Induced by M-CSF and IL-10

“…Similarly, IL-10 is constitutively produced by a variety of cells and is also induced in inflammatory conditions to counteract proinflammatory cytokines, thereby considered as an important homeostatic mechanism to avoid inappropriate T cell activation (49). In the context of pregnancy, IL-10 is locally produced by, for example, trophoblasts, uterine NK cells, and Mf (22,50,51), and M-CSF, which increases dramatically in the mouse and human uterus during gestation (26,28), is produced by, for example, endometrial stromal cells, trophoblasts, and uterine NK cells (52,53). Thus, it is likely that the locally produced M-CSF and IL-10 promote homeostatic Mf with the ability of clearing infections without compromising fetal tolerance.…”

Immune regulation at the fetal‐maternal interface with focus on decidual macrophages

“…This concept is supported by the accumulation of decidual macrophages in areas close to invading trophoblast cells and remodeling spiral arteries (Smith et al, 2009;Helige et al, 2014). Decidual macrophages express or produce factors particularly associated with tissue remodeling, for instance matrix metalloproteinase-9, fibronectin-1 and collagens, and angiogenic factors such as epidermal growth factor (EGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) (Engert et al, 2007;Li et al, 2009;Smith et al, 2009). In addition, decidual macrophages produce chemotactic cytokines and chemokines (for instance CXCL8 and IL-33) proposed to promote trophoblast recruitment (Engert et al, 2007;Fock et al, 2013).…”

“…In contrast, most human decidual NK cells are CD56 bright CD16 - (Starkey et al, 1988;King et al, 1991), and seem to be cytokine-producing cells that express immunosuppressive molecules (Koopman et al, 2003;Engert et al, 2007). In addition, although they express NK cell-activating receptors and cytolytic granules (King et al, 1991;Koopman et al, 2003;Hanna et al, 2006), decidual NK cells have been proposed to have limited cytotoxic ability (Kopcow et al, 2005), a feature that is essential for their close association with trophoblast cells.…”

“…In contrast, pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-12, TNF and IFN-γ are present at lower levels in trophoblast cells (Sacks et al, 2001). Trophoblast cells may also be an important source of the macrophage growth factors M-CSF and GM-CSF (Bartocci et al, 1986;Jokhi et al, 1994;Engert et al, 2007). Other mechanisms that have been described to promote fetal tolerance include the elimination of maternal reactive T cells by indoleamine 2,3-dioxynenase (IDO) or Fas-ligand (FasL) and the induction of tolerogenic cells by for instance galectin-1 (Hunt et al, 1997;Munn et al, 1998;Blois et al, 2007).…”

“…Decidual macrophages express or produce factors particularly associated with tissue remodeling, for instance matrix metalloproteinase-9, fibronectin-1 and collagens, and angiogenic factors such as epidermal growth factor (EGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) (Engert et al, 2007;Li et al, 2009;Smith et al, 2009). In addition, decidual macrophages produce chemotactic cytokines and chemokines (for instance CXCL8 and IL-33) proposed to promote trophoblast recruitment (Engert et al, 2007;Fock et al, 2013). Another important function attributed to decidual macrophages is the clearance of debris and apoptotic cells that are generated during spiral remodeling.…”