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Isolation of Leukocytes from the Human Maternal-fetal Interface
Published on: May 21, 2015
Lymphocyte subset distribution and cytokine secretion in third trimester decidua in normal pregnancy and preeclampsia
Jacek R Wilczyński1, Henryk Tchórzewski, Małgorzata Banasik
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Military Medical Academy, Lodz, Poland. jrwil@post.pl
Insights
Preeclampsia involves altered immune cells and elevated Th1 activity in the decidua, indicated by increased Natural Killer (NK) cells and specific T cell subsets, alongside higher IFN-gamma levels.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Reproductive Medicine
- Pathogenesis of Preeclampsia
Background:
- Preeclampsia pathogenesis may involve excessive Th1 immune activity in peripheral blood.
- Investigating local immune responses in the decidua is crucial for understanding preeclampsia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate local immune reactions within the decidua in preeclampsia.
- To analyze lymphocyte subsets and cytokine profiles in the decidua of preeclamptic patients.
Main Methods:
- Flow cytometry was used to analyze decidual lymphocyte subsets (CD3, CD19, CD56/CD16, CD4, CD8, etc.).
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) measured cytokine secretion (IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, IFN-gamma, TGF-beta) from decidual lymphocytes.
- Statistical analysis used the U Mann-Whitney test.
Main Results:
- Preeclamptic patients showed increased CD3-/CD56+CD16+ and CD8+/CD28+ lymphocytes, with decreased CD3+, CD19+, and CD4+/CD45RA+ cells.
- Decidual cytokine profiles favored Th1 activity, with significantly high IFN-gamma and low IL-6 and IL-10 secretion.
- Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) levels were extremely high, while decidual IL-12 secretion was decreased in preeclamptic patients.
Conclusions:
- Alterations in Natural Killer (NK) and T lymphocyte subsets are observed in the decidua of preeclamptic patients.
- Over-activity of Th1 cytokine IFN-gamma may disrupt local immunoregulatory mechanisms in the third-trimester decidua.
- These findings highlight the role of local immune dysregulation in preeclampsia.
Background:
Excessive Th1 activity in peripheral blood plays a probable role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. The aim of the study was to investigate whether disturbed local immune reactions are also present in decidua.
Methods:
Flow cytometric analysis of CD3, CD19, CD56/CD16, CD4, CD8, CD4/CD29, CD4/CD45RA, CD4/CD45RO, CD8/CD28, CD3/CD69 lymphocyte subsets isolated from third trimester decidua of pregnants with preeclampsia (n=21) and pregnant controls (n=11) subjected to elective caesarean sections. Spontaneous and phytohemaglutynine stimulated "in vitro" secretion of IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, IFN-gamma and TGF-beta by decidual lymphocytes was studied by ELISA. For the statistical significance of differences between the groups the U Mann-Whitney test was performed (confidence interval P<0.05).
Results:
Preeclamptic patients were characterized with an increased percentage of the CD3-/CD56+CD16+, CD8+/CD28+ and decreased percentage of CD3+, CD19+, CD4+/CD45RA+ lymphocytes. The profile of secreted cytokines shifts in favor of Th1 activity (extremely high IFN-gamma and low IL-6 and IL-10 secretion). Decidual IL-12 secretion in preeclamptic patients is decreased compared to controls.
Conclusion:
Changes in NK and T lymphocyte subsets followed with Th1 cytokine IFN-gamma over-activity, could affect local immunoregulatory mechanisms in third trimester decidua of preeclamptic patients.
