Distribution and maturity of dendritic cells in diseases of insufficient placentation.

Abstract

PROBLEM:

The immunological equilibrium at the feto-maternal interphase contributes towards late gestational diseases like growth restriction (IUGR) pre-eclampsia (PE) and hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelets (HELLP)-syndrome. The state of activation of decidual dendritic cells (DC) has emerged as one of the central players influencing this immunological equilibrium.

METHOD OF STUDY:

Paraffin-embedded tissue sections from 27 pregnancies were immunostained for DC markers DEC-205, DC-SIGN, DC-LAMP and costained for DC-SIGN/CD56 and DC-SIGN/ vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) -1 and -2. We investigated placental tissue of IUGR fetuses and of patients who developed PE or HELLP-syndrome as well as placental tissue derived from normal pregnancies.

RESULTS:

We found that expression of DEC-205 and DC-SIGN was significantly upregulated in HELLP placentas, whereas expression of DC-LAMP was abrogated almost entirely. Costaining showed an interaction between DC-SIGN(+) DC and natural killer cells as well as costaining of VEGFR-1 and -2 and DC-SIGN. Pre-eclamptic and IUGR placentas showed no significant change in any of the investigated markers compared to normal controls.

CONCLUSION:

Our data suggest a participation of DC-mediated immunological mechanisms in HELLP syndrome.

• Authors: Christoph Scholz, Bettina Toth, Laura Santoso, Christina Kuhn, Maximilian Franz, Doris Mayr, Udo Jeschke, Klaus Friese, Barbara Schiessl
• Journal: American journal of reproductive immunology (New York, N.Y. : 1989) (Am J Reprod Immunol) Vol. 60 Issue 3 Pg. 238-45 (Sep 2008) ISSN: 1046-7408 [Print] Denmark
• PMID: 18782285 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antigens, CD
• Cell Adhesion Molecules
• DC-specific ICAM-3 grabbing nonintegrin
• DEC-205 receptor
• Lectins, C-Type
• Lysosome-Associated Membrane Glycoproteins
• Minor Histocompatibility Antigens
• Receptors, Cell Surface
• Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor

Topics

• Antigens, CD (metabolism)
• Cell Adhesion Molecules (metabolism)
• Decidua (cytology, immunology, metabolism)
• Dendritic Cells (immunology, metabolism)
• Female
• Fetal Growth Retardation (immunology, metabolism)
• HELLP Syndrome (immunology, metabolism)
• Humans
• Killer Cells, Natural (immunology)
• Lectins, C-Type (metabolism)
• Lysosome-Associated Membrane Glycoproteins (metabolism)
• Minor Histocompatibility Antigens
• Placentation
• Pre-Eclampsia (immunology, metabolism)
• Pregnancy
• Receptors, Cell Surface (metabolism)
• Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (metabolism)