engleski

Human first trimester decidua macrophages display phenotype of alternative activation

"Classical" activation of macrophages, induced by IFNgama and LPS leads to secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and support of Th1-driven immune reactions which may be detrimental to early pregnancy, where macrophages make up for up to 30% of bone marrow derived cells in the human decidua during the first trimenon. In contrast, "alternally activated" macrophages (AAM) induced e.g. by IL-4 and glucocorticoids, IL-10 or IL-13, display an immunosuppressive effect towards Th1 mediated immune responses, which may relate to successful pregnancy. AAM are characterized by a distinctive molecular repertoire. The purpose of our study was to study the activation-type related phenotype of DM on the basis of expression of the following markers: MS-1 high molecular weight protein, fibronectin, coagulation factor XIIIa, IL-10 (which are characteristic for AAM) and iNOS (a marker of classical activation). The methods used included immunoperoxidase staining of cryocut sections, double fluorescence flow cytometry of permeabilized cells isolated from first trimester decidua, confocal laser scanning cytometry and (in the case of IL-10 and iNOS) RT-PCR of flow sorted DM. On the protein level we found expression of IL-10, MS-1, fibronectin and F XIIIa. On the mRNA level, IL-10 was detectable in contrast to iNOS, which was negative. Our data provede a phenotypic pattern characteristic of AAM. Functional data are required to complement these studies.

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