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Localization of leukocytes and cytokines in chorionic villi of normal placentas and complete hydatidiform moles
R S Berkowitz1, H M Faris, J A Hill
1New England Trophoblastic Disease Center, Fearing Research Laboratory, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
Abstract:
Monoclonal antibodies were used to localize and characterize leukocytes and cytokines in chorionic villi of normal placenta and complete mole. OKT4a reacted with Hofbauer cells in first-, second-, and third-trimester placentas. HLA-DR was expressed on second- and third-trimester placental Hofbauer cells but was not detected in the first trimester. The cytokines, gamma-interferon, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, interleukin-1 alpha, and tumor necrosis factor alpha, were all detectable on Hofbauer cells in first-, second-, and third-trimester placentas. None of the tested cytokine antibodies reacted with cellular constituents in complete molar chorionic villi. The absence of cytokine-positive cells in molar chorionic villi may be related to the hyperplastic and unregulated growth of molar villous trophoblast.