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Involvement of Hofbauer cells and maternal T cells in villitis of unknown aetiology
Author(s) -
Kim JS,
Romero R,
Kim M R,
Kim Y M,
Friel L,
Espinoza J,
Kim C J
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
histopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.626
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1365-2559
pISSN - 0309-0167
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2559.2008.02964.x
Subject(s) - immunophenotyping , cd68 , cd8 , immunology , chromogenic in situ hybridization , biology , pathology , antigen , cd14 , macrophage , immunohistochemistry , in situ hybridization , immune system , medicine , genetics , in vitro , gene expression , gene
Aims: The nature of villitis of unknown aetiology (VUE) is intriguing in terms of its aetiology, origin of inflammatory cells and immunophenotype of T cells involved. The aim was to determine the origin of macrophages and the immunophenotype of T lymphocytes in VUE associated with various complications of pregnancy. Methods and results: Placentas with VUE ( n = 45) were studied by chromogenic in‐situ hybridization (CISH) for Y chromosome (DYZ1) and immunohistochemistry for CD14, CD68, Ki67 ( n = 10; all from male neonates) and a panel of T‐cell antigens (CD3, CD4 and CD8) ( n = 35). All of the placentas from male neonates showed CISH+ signals from Y chromosomes in the majority of macrophages, but not in lymphocytes, indicating that the macrophages were of fetal origin. Many macrophages of the affected chorionic villi were Ki67+, suggesting that they are hyperplastic Hofbauer cells. Among the lymphocytes, CD8+ T cells outnumbered CD4+ T cells in all placentas with different obstetrical conditions. Conclusions: We define primary components of VUE as maternal CD8+ T cells and hyperplastic Hofbauer cells. We propose that VUE is a unique inflammatory reaction where the leucocytes from two hosts are key partners, analogous to either allograft rejection or graft‐versus‐host disease.