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The immunophenotype of human decidua and extra‐uterine decidual reactions
Author(s) -
HEATLEY M.K.,
MAXWELL P.,
TONER P.G.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
histopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.626
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1365-2559
pISSN - 0309-0167
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2559.1996.d01-516.x
Subject(s) - decidua , immunophenotyping , decidual cells , biology , immunology , pregnancy , flow cytometry , fetus , placenta , genetics
Decidua associated with products of conception from intra‐uterine and extra‐uterine gestations and decidualized tissue from the appendix, cervix and Fallopian tube were studied using a panel of antibodies and antisera. Immunolocalization of vimentin and desmin intermediate filament proteins and of α‐1‐antitrypsin and α‐1‐antichymotrypsin was identified in most of the 43 cases studied. Placental alkaline phosphatase, β human chorionic gonadotrophin, cytokeratin, smooth‐muscle actin and leukocyte markers (CD3, CD20, CD68) were also expressed in some cases. Occasional cases reacted for CD45 and S‐100 protein. Similar reaction profiles were obtained at both intra‐uterine and extra‐uterine sites. The results show that extra‐uterine mesenchymal cells which have undergone a decidual reaction correspond closely to their counterparts in the endometrial stroma. Since positive immunostaining within decidual cells for cytokeratins, placental alkaline phosphatase and β human chorionic gonadotrophin indicates that trophoblastic cells are not exclusively recognized by these antibodies, their use does not permit the confident diagnosis of an intra‐uterine gestation.