[Decidual lymphocyte subsets in pregnant women]

Materno-foetal immunological reactions in decidua are probably one of the most important elements in pathogenesis of preeclampsia.

To compare lymphocyte subsets isolated from decidua of preeclamptic pregnant women with lymphocyte subsets isolated from healthy pregnant women.

Preeclampsia (PE) was defined according to USA National Health Institute criteria. The study group consisted of 21 women with PE and 11 women with physiological pregnancy. All pregnancies were finished with elective cesarean sections. Exclusion criteria were: uterine contractions, infection, chorinamnionitis, diabetes mellitus and therapy with steroids less than 7 days before blood sampling. Decidual tissue was obtained by curettage of the uterine cavity. The fragments of decidua were separated from clotted blood and placed in sterile tubes with 5 ml of isotonic solution (PBS). Then the decidual tissue was mechanically fragmented, homogenized and rinsed in PBS. Routine immunofluorescent marking techniques with monoclonal antibodies were performed. Analysis was done with FACSCalibur flow-cytometer with 488 nm argon laser using CellQuest programme. The following lymphocyte subsets were estimated: CD3, CD19, CD4, CD8, CD4/CD29, CD8/CD28, CD4/CD45RA, CD4/CD45RO, CD56/CD16, CD69. The results were described as percentage of lymphocytes positive for above surface molecules. Statistical analysis was performed using t-Student and U-Mann-Whitney tests. The work was sponsored by KBN 4 P05E 118 15 grant.

Decidua of pregnant PE women contains significantly increased percentage of CD3-/ CD56 + 16+, CD8+/CD28+ cells and decreased percentage of CD3+, CD19+, CD4+/CD29+ and CD4+/CD45RA+ compared to decidua of healthy pregnant controls.

These changes suggest that deficiency of suppressor activity as well as aberrant immunoregulation exists in decidual tissue of PE women.