OBJECTIVE: The hypothesis of this study is that trophoblasts contribute to the survival of the mammalian fetal allograft. STUDY DESIGN: Immunologic and molecular biologic studies were performed with human trophoblasts or trophoblastic tumor cells to investigate the expression of class I human leukocyte antigens, the susceptibility to natural killer and lymphokine-activated cells, the ontogeny of Fc gamma-receptors, and the production of immunosuppressive factors. RESULTS: Heterogeneous expression of class I human leukocyte antigens on trophoblasts was regulated at transcriptional level. Trophoblasts showed low susceptibility to natural killer and lymphokine-activated cells. Trophoblasts expressed natural killer cell-type Fc gamma-receptor III, which mediates phagocytosis. The trophoblast-derived immunosuppressive factor was very similar to transforming growth factor-beta. CONCLUSION: The trophoblasts, which ultimately form the fetoplacental interface, constitute a major immune barrier for the survival of the allogenic conceptus.
OBJECTIVE: The hypothesis of this study is that trophoblasts contribute to the survival of the mammalian fetal allograft. STUDY DESIGN: Immunologic and molecular biologic studies were performed with human trophoblasts or trophoblastic tumor cells to investigate the expression of class I human leukocyte antigens, the susceptibility to natural killer and lymphokine-activated cells, the ontogeny of Fc gamma-receptors, and the production of immunosuppressive factors. RESULTS: Heterogeneous expression of class I human leukocyte antigens on trophoblasts was regulated at transcriptional level. Trophoblasts showed low susceptibility to natural killer and lymphokine-activated cells. Trophoblasts expressed natural killer cell-type Fc gamma-receptor III, which mediates phagocytosis. The trophoblast-derived immunosuppressive factor was very similar to transforming growth factor-beta. CONCLUSION: The trophoblasts, which ultimately form the fetoplacental interface, constitute a major immune barrier for the survival of the allogenic conceptus.