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Decidual Mast Cells Might Be Involved in the Onset of Human First‐Trimester Abortion
Author(s) -
Marx Lore,
Arck Petra,
Kieslich Christian,
Mitterlechner Stefanie,
Kapp Michaela,
Dietl Johannes
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
american journal of reproductive immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.071
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1600-0897
pISSN - 1046-7408
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0897.1999.tb00073.x
Subject(s) - abortion , mast (botany) , first trimester , decidua , andrology , medicine , pregnancy , obstetrics , mast cell , gynecology , biology , immunology , fetus , placenta , genetics
PROBLEM: The aim of the present study was to identify the role of mast cells and substance P (SP)‐containing nerve fibers in human decidua in normal and pathological pregnancies. METHOD OF STUDY: We collected decidua from women undergoing termination of normal pregnancies and from abortions. The presence of mast cells and SP was detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: We observed a sparse distribution of mast cells in the normal pregnancies (36.7 tryptase + mast cells/mm 2 decidua). In the decidua from abortion, we found a dramatic increase in the number of mast cells (448.7 and 469.2 tryptase + mast cells/mm 2 decidua in primary and secondary abortions, respectively). In addition, we observed an increase of SP‐positive nerve fibers in the decidua of abortions. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that decidual mast cells may play an important role in the onset of abortion, due to the production of cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor‐α.