PROBLEM: Inflammatory cells play a crucial role in human parturition. Different populations of leucocytes invade the reproductive tract. Numerous studies have described the decidual immune cell population in pregnant and non-pregnant endometrium. However, little is known about the presence of immune cells in human myometrium. METHOD OF STUDY: we herein analysed a spectrum of immune cells in human myometrium comparing tissue samples from non-pregnant (n = 8) and pregnant (n = 10) uteri. Applying immunohistochemistry with a panel of antibodies specific for T cells, monocytes, natural killer cells, B cells and antigen-presenting cells (CD4, CD8, CD14, CD15, CD16, CD19, CD56, CD68, CD83, HLA-DR, DC-Sign, mast cell tryptase), we characterized the immune cell population of human myometrium. RESULTS: a significantly higher number of CD14, CD15, CD16, DC-SIGN as well as CD4-positive cells were found in myometrium of pregnant compared to non-pregnant uteri, while mast cells were significantly reduced in pregnant myometrium. CONCLUSION: all markers found increased in pregnant myometrium indicate monocyte/macrophage lineage cells and thus suggest a possible involvement of these cells in healthy pregnancy maintenance. Monocytes/macrophages might produce a microenvironment that permits a controlled invasion of trophoblast cells into the myometrium while preventing a rejection of the semiallogenic conceptus and providing an important barrier against invading pathogenes.
PROBLEM: Inflammatory cells play a crucial role in human parturition. Different populations of leucocytes invade the reproductive tract. Numerous studies have described the decidual immune cell population in pregnant and non-pregnant endometrium. However, little is known about the presence of immune cells in human myometrium. METHOD OF STUDY: we herein analysed a spectrum of immune cells in human myometrium comparing tissue samples from non-pregnant (n = 8) and pregnant (n = 10) uteri. Applying immunohistochemistry with a panel of antibodies specific for T cells, monocytes, natural killer cells, B cells and antigen-presenting cells (CD4, CD8, CD14, CD15, CD16, CD19, CD56, CD68, CD83, HLA-DR, DC-Sign, mast cell tryptase), we characterized the immune cell population of human myometrium. RESULTS: a significantly higher number of CD14, CD15, CD16, DC-SIGN as well as CD4-positive cells were found in myometrium of pregnant compared to non-pregnant uteri, while mast cells were significantly reduced in pregnant myometrium. CONCLUSION: all markers found increased in pregnant myometrium indicate monocyte/macrophage lineage cells and thus suggest a possible involvement of these cells in healthy pregnancy maintenance. Monocytes/macrophages might produce a microenvironment that permits a controlled invasion of trophoblast cells into the myometrium while preventing a rejection of the semiallogenic conceptus and providing an important barrier against invading pathogenes.
Authors: Nicolas Da Silva; Virna Cortez-Retamozo; Hans-Christian Reinecker; Moritz Wildgruber; Eric Hill; Dennis Brown; Filip K Swirski; Mikael J Pittet; Sylvie Breton Journal: Reproduction Date: 2011-02-10 Impact factor: 3.906
Authors: Amy L Jensen; Jane Collins; Emilie P Shipman; Charles R Wira; Paul M Guyre; Patricia A Pioli Journal: Am J Reprod Immunol Date: 2012-08-06 Impact factor: 3.886
Authors: Pei F Lai; Kaiyu Lei; Xiaoyu Zhan; Gavin Sooranna; Jonathan K H Li; Ektoras X Georgiou; Ananya Das; Natasha Singh; Qiye Li; Zachary Stanfield; Guojie Zhang; Rachel M Tribe; Sam Mesiano; Mark R Johnson Journal: PLoS One Date: 2021-11-19 Impact factor: 3.240