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ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Distribution and Maturity of Dendritic Cells in Diseases of Insufficient Placentation
Author(s) -
Scholz Christoph,
Toth Bettina,
Santoso Laura,
Kuhn Christina,
Franz Maximilian,
Mayr Doris,
Jeschke Udo,
Friese Klaus,
Schiessl Barbara
Publication year - 2008
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.1600-0897.2008.00619.x
Subject(s) - hellp syndrome , placentation , dc sign , gestation , biology , placenta , hemolysis , fetus , immunology , preeclampsia , andrology , dendritic cell , endocrinology , medicine , pregnancy , immune system , genetics
Problem The immunological equilibrium at the feto‐maternal interphase contributes towards late gestational diseases like growth restriction (IUGR) pre‐eclampsia (PE) and hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelets (HELLP)‐syndrome. The state of activation of decidual dendritic cells (DC) has emerged as one of the central players influencing this immunological equilibrium. Method of study Paraffin‐embedded tissue sections from 27 pregnancies were immunostained for DC markers DEC‐205, DC‐SIGN, DC‐LAMP and costained for DC‐SIGN/CD56 and DC‐SIGN/ vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) ‐1 and ‐2. We investigated placental tissue of IUGR fetuses and of patients who developed PE or HELLP‐syndrome as well as placental tissue derived from normal pregnancies. Results We found that expression of DEC‐205 and DC‐SIGN was significantly upregulated in HELLP placentas, whereas expression of DC‐LAMP was abrogated almost entirely. Costaining showed an interaction between DC‐SIGN + DC and natural killer cells as well as costaining of VEGFR‐1 and ‐2 and DC‐SIGN. Pre‐eclamptic and IUGR placentas showed no significant change in any of the investigated markers compared to normal controls. Conclusion Our data suggest a participation of DC‐mediated immunological mechanisms in HELLP syndrome.