自然流产模型小鼠蜕膜细胞凋亡及Bcl-2、Bax表达的研究

目的：通过比较正常妊娠模型小鼠及自然流产模型小鼠蜕膜细胞凋亡及Bcl-2、Bax蛋白的表达，从细胞及分子水平探讨自然流产的发病机制。方法：建立正常妊娠模型CBAXBALB／c和自然流产模型CBAXDBA／2。用免疫组化SABC法测定两组模型孕13天蜕膜细胞Bcl-2和Bax蛋白的表达，并通过MIAS-2000医用彩色病理图像免疫组化测量系统对其表达进行半定量分析，其结果用平均灰度值表示；同时应用DNA缺口原位末端标记技术（TUNEL）测定两组模型孕13天蜕膜细胞凋亡情况。结果：与正常妊娠模型相比，自然流产模型蜕膜细胞Bcl-2蛋白的表达降低（P〈0．01）；Bax蛋白的表达明显升高（P〈0．01）。蜕膜细胞凋亡指数，自然流产模型明显高于正常妊娠模型（P〈0．01）。结论：早孕期蜕膜组织细胞凋亡异常是自然流产的机制之一，Bcl-2／Bax途径可能是诱导早孕期蜕膜细胞凋亡的重要因素。     

自然流产模型小鼠蜕膜细胞凋亡及相关基因的表达

目的 通过比较正常妊娠模型小鼠及自然流产模型小鼠蜕膜细胞凋亡及Bcl-2、Bax、Fas、FasL蛋白的表达,从细胞及分子水平探讨自然流产的发病机制.方法建立正常妊娠模型CBAXBALB/c和自然流产模型CBAXDBA/2.用免疫组化SABC法测定两组模型孕13 d蜕膜细胞Bcl-2、Bax、Fas、FasL蛋白的表达,并通过MIAS-2000医用彩色病理图像免疫组化测量系统对其表达进行半定量分析,其结果用平均灰度值表示;同时应用DNA缺口原位末端标记技术(TUNEL)测定两组模型孕13天蜕膜细胞凋亡情况.结果与正常妊娠模型相比,自然流产模型蜕膜细胞Bcl-2蛋白的表达降低(P＜0.01);Bax蛋白的表达明显升高(P＜0.01);FasL的表达明显升高(P＜0.01);Fas的表达两组比较无明显差异(P＞0.05).蜕膜细胞凋亡指数(AI),自然流产模型明显高于正常妊娠模型(P＜0.01).结论 早孕期蜕膜组织细胞凋亡异常是自然流产的机制之一,Bcl-2/Bax,Fas/FasL途径可能是诱导早孕期蜕膜细胞凋亡的重要因素.     

稽留流产与相关基因蛋白表达的关系研究

目的比较正常早孕组和稽留流产组两类妊娠女性的胎盘绒毛、蜕膜组织中Bcl-2、Bax基因蛋白表达情况,分析Bcl-2、Bax基因蛋白表达情况及其二者比值与胎盘绒毛、蜕膜组织中细胞凋亡的作用关系,为探索预防稽留流产发生相关的有效干预措施参考。方法搜集整理近年在北京航天总医院就诊的正常早孕和稽留流产女性93例,利用免疫组化学染色方法检测胎膜绒毛、蜕膜组织中Bcl-2、Bax基因蛋白表达情况,并定量分析其统计量、秩和检验以及相关性三类统计结果。结果无论是绒毛还是蜕膜组织,稽留流产组的Bax基因蛋白表达情况都要高于正常早孕组(0.21±0.37和0.1±0,0.5±0.79和0.14±0.18);绒毛组织两组的Bcl-2基因蛋白表达情况相近(2.95±0.31和2.94±0.42),但是稽留流产Bcl-2和Bax的比值要低于正常早孕组(26.92±8.55和29.41±4.2);蜕膜组织,稽留流产组的Bcl-2基因蛋白表达情况以及Bcl-2和Bax的比值均高于正常早孕组(2.48±0.9和1.47±1.02,18.66±13.09和14±10.22)。结论孕妇稽留流产原因与细胞凋亡相关基因高表达有关。     

早孕期人蜕膜趋化因子CCL2及其受体CCR2的表达及意义

目的：分析人早孕蜕膜及蜕膜基质细胞趋化因子受体CCR2及其配体CCL2在人早孕蜕膜组织及蜕膜基质细胞的表达和分泌，以探讨CCR2／CCL2在母-胎界面的生物学作用。方法：收集早孕期蜕膜组织，分离蜕膜基质细胞，分别用半定量RT-PCR、免疫化学方法分析正常人早孕蜕膜组织和培养的人蜕膜基质细胞CCR2／CCL2表达；并且用流式细胞术和ELISA法分别检测蜕膜基质细胞表面CCR2的表达和培养的蜕膜基质细胞上清中CCL2的分泌。结果：人早孕蜕膜组织和蜕膜基质细胞均高水平转录和翻译CCR2／CCL2，培养的基质细胞能分泌大量的CCL2，其分泌量呈时间依赖性。结论：早孕蜕膜高表达和分泌CCR2／CCL2可能参与早孕期母一胎免疫调节。     

表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯对缺血再灌注心肌细胞凋亡的作用

目的：观察表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯（EGCG）对缺血再灌注损伤大鼠心肌细胞凋亡的影响。 方法： 采用结扎大鼠左冠状动脉前降支30 min，然后松开再灌注60 min的方法，复制大鼠心肌缺血再灌注损伤模型。实验分假手术组、缺血再灌注组（IR）、EGCG不同剂量治疗组和丹参（SM）组。用原位缺口末端标记法（TUNEL）检测心肌凋亡细胞，用链酶亲和素-生物素-酶复合物（SABC）免疫组化法检测凋亡相关基因Bcl-2和Bax蛋白表达。 结果： 在假手术组未发现凋亡细胞，IR组细胞凋亡明显，Bcl-2和Bax蛋白表达增加，但以Bax更明显，Bcl-2/Bax值显著低于假手术组（P<0.01）；EGCG组凋亡细胞明显少于IR组，Bcl-2表达显著大于而Bax表达显著少于IR组，Bcl-2/Bax值显著高于IR组（P<0.01）。 结论： EGCG能明显抑制IR引起的心肌细胞凋亡，其作用机制可能与下调Bax和上调Bcl-2蛋白表达，提高Bcl-2/Bax值有一定关系。     

高压力对体外培养动脉中膜平滑肌细胞凋亡及其相关蛋白的影响

目的观察血管平滑肌细胞在单纯高压力作用下凋亡及其相关蛋白Bcl-2和Bax的变化，探讨力学因素在血管重建中的作用。方法应用血管体外应力培养系统，分别在压力100mmHg和160mmHg条件下培养猪颈总动脉1、4和7d，新鲜血管为对照。应用TUNEL法、透射电镜等观察血管平滑肌细胞的凋亡；用免疫组织化学方法检测血管平滑肌细胞内Bcl-2和Bax的表达。结果高压力作用下，血管平滑肌细胞凋亡第1d较多，而后逐渐减少；Bcl-2蛋白表达持续增强；Bax蛋白第1d较多，而后逐渐减少。结论高压力可以影响血管平滑肌细胞的凋亡，凋亡相关蛋白Bcl-2持续增加，Bax先增加后减少，揭示高压力可能通过调节Bcl-2和Bax来调控血管平滑肌细胞的凋亡。     

大鼠免疫性肝损伤中细胞凋亡和铁的作用

目的：研究细胞凋亡和低铁处理在实验性免疫性大鼠肝损伤中的作用，进一步阐明肝细胞损伤的机制。 方法： 通过放血或去铁胺(DFO)处理复制低铁动物模型; 采用卡介苗加脂多糖（BCG+LPS）诱导法复制免疫性肝损伤模型; 检测血清铁（SI）、转铁蛋白（TRF）、总蛋白（TP）含量及天门冬氨酸氨基转移酶（AST）活性，肝组织中丙二醛（MDA）含量、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性、肝组织中铁（HIC）含量、细胞凋亡调节蛋白 bal-2基因和Bax基因表达的变化，计算细胞凋亡指数（AI）和Bax与Bcl-2（Bax/Bcl-2）比值。 结果： 结果表明：（1）在免疫性肝损伤中，调控细胞凋亡基因中的Bax表达量显著增大，而Bcl-2表达量并无显著改变，因而Bax/Bcl-2比值和AI均增大，细胞凋亡增强，同时伴有AST活性增加、MDA含量增高。（2）用静脉放血或注射DFO复制低铁的动物模型。这种铁缺失大鼠的Bax和Bcl-2的表达量均显著高于空白对照，Bax/Bcl-2比值和AI亦显著增大。但该比值和AI的增大与免疫性肝损伤组比较，前者显著低于后者。这表示铁缺失的动物虽然肝细胞的细胞凋亡也增强，但程度上较免疫性肝损伤要低的多。（3）免疫性肝损伤加放血或注射DFO，虽然Bcl-2和Bax表达量均明显升高，但Bax/Bcl-2比值和AI均显著低于单纯免疫性肝损伤组，与空白对照组比较，已无显著差别。这提示铁通过对Bcl-2和Bax表达量的调节，在免疫性肝损伤的细胞凋亡发生中起重要作用。低铁大鼠发生免疫性肝损伤后，MDA含量均低于单纯免疫性肝损伤组，而SOD活性则高于免疫性肝损伤组，提示铁在免疫性肝损伤中的自由基代谢失控发生过程中也起了一定的作用。 结论： 在免疫性肝损伤时，细胞凋亡过程增强,易化肝细胞的损伤；铁在免疫性肝损伤的细胞凋亡发生中起重要作用。     

人早孕母胎界面SOCS1、SOCS2、SOCS3表达

目的：研究正常早孕绒毛及蜕膜组织细胞因子信号转导负调控因子（Suppressors of cytoldne signaling，SOCS）基因和蛋白水平表达，以揭示SOCS在母胎界面生理性调节作用。方法：半定量RT-PCR检测早孕绒毛组织、蜕膜组织及原代培养早孕滋养细胞、蜕膜基质细胞SOCS1、SOCS2、SOCS3 mRNA水平；Western blot检测早孕绒毛组织及蜕膜组织SOCS1、SOCS2、SOCS3蛋白表达；免疫组化定位SOCS1、SOCS2、SOCS3在早孕绒毛组织、蜕膜组织表达；ELISA检测滋养细胞、蜕膜基质细胞分泌IL-10、IFN-γ。结果：正常母胎界面见SOCS1、SOCS2、SOCS3基因表达，其中SOCS3绒毛／蜕膜阳性率73．7％／71．1％；SOCS2绒毛／蜕膜阳性率50．0％／39．5％，SOCS1最少，绒毛／蜕膜阳性率34．2％／31．6％；SOCS1、SOCS2、SOCS3蛋白表达与转录水平基本一致；正常母胎界面SOCS1、SOCS2、SOCS3表达主要定位于绒毛滋养细胞和蜕膜间质；体外无血清培养滋养细胞和蜕膜基质细胞SOCS2、SOCS3低表达，SOCS1未见表达，其分泌的IL-10随时间而增高（P〈0．05）。结论：正常早孕母胎界面表达SOCS1、SOCS2、SOCS3，无刺激条件下滋养细胞和蜕膜基质细胞低表达SOCS2、SOCS3，SOCS在正常妊娠Th平衡中具有重要意义。     

肢体缺血再灌注后的肺损伤和细胞凋亡及NO的效应

目的：探讨肢体缺血再灌注（LIR）后肺的损伤性变化以及细胞凋亡在肺损伤发生中的作用；探讨一氧化氮（NO）对LIR后肺组织细胞凋亡的影响。 方法：采用本室常规方法复制大鼠LIR模型，给予外源性一氧化氮合酶底物（L-Arg）和一氧化氮合酶抑制剂(L-NAME)处理，采用原位末端标记法（TUNEL）检测缺血4 h再灌注4 h时各组动物肺组织细胞凋亡情况；采用放免法检测凋亡相关细胞因子TNF-α在肺组织的表达，结合计算机分析系统对结果进行定量分析；采用免疫组织化学方法检测Bcl-2、Bax、caspase-3、TNF-α蛋白表达情况，结合自动图像分析系统对其结果进行定量分析；在光镜下观察肺组织的形态学改变。结果：大鼠LIR后4 h，肺泡Ⅱ型上皮细胞、肺血管内皮细胞呈凋亡改变,肺组织TNF-α、caspase-3、Bax明显上调,Bcl-2表达下调。L-Arg处理组，凋亡细胞数明显减少，肺组织TNF-α、caspase-3、Bax的表达情况与IR组相比明显减弱，Bcl-2表达明显增强；L-NAME处理组动物肺组织TNF-α、caspase-3、Bax的表达情况与IR组相比明显增强，Bcl-2表达明显减弱。结论：细胞凋亡参与了大鼠LIR后急性肺损伤的发生，且与TNF-α有关；NO可通过减弱细胞凋亡相关因子TNF-α的表达，减轻LIR后肺组织的细胞凋亡。     

Bcl-2和Bax蛋白在人早孕胎盘绒毛和蜕膜组织中的表达

目的探讨Bcl-2和Bax蛋白在人早孕绒毛和蜕膜组织中的表达及其意义。方法应用免疫组织化学ABC法检测Bcl-2和Bax蛋白在孕5~7周绒毛和蜕膜组织细胞中的表达,用真彩色病理图像分析系统4.0图像分析软件测定Bcl-2和Bax蛋白表达的积分吸光度值。结果Bc1-2蛋白主要分布于孕5~7周绒毛合体滋养层细胞、蜕膜细胞的细胞质和细胞核中,蛋白表达积分吸光度值依次降低,其差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。Bax蛋白在孕5~7周绒毛细胞滋养层细胞、合体滋养层细胞中均未见表达;孕6周,Bax蛋白表达于极少部分蜕膜细胞的细胞质中。结论Bc1-2和Bax蛋白在人早孕过程中参与了绒毛滋养层细胞增殖和分化、子宫内膜蜕膜化的过程,在绒毛的发生、发育、胎盘形成和组织结构改建及功能完善等方面发挥着重要作用。     

Apoptosis of T Cells in the First Trimester Human Decidua

PROBLEM: Apoptosis has been accepted as a mechanism for maintaining tolerance in the immune system. The induction of apoptotic cell death can also be a possible outcome of the lymphocyte activation. Expression of Fas ligand (FasL) by the human trophoblast has been proposed as a mechanism providing protection against the lytic action of decidual immune cells. The aim of this study was to determine whether decidual T cells undergo apoptosis during abortion. METHOD OF STUDY: We studied apoptosis of T cells isolated from the first-trimester decidua in 12 women after spontaneous or elective abortion. We used gel electrophoresis to detect DNA fragmentation. Cells undergoing DNA fragmentation also were identified by DNA analysis using flow cytometry. This method was based on the accumulation of ethanol-fixed apoptotic cells in the sub-GO/G1 peak of the DNA content as a result of the loss of DNA fragments from the cells and because of a reduced DNA ability to be stained by propidium iodide. In addition, the expression of Fas antigen on the surface of decidual T cells (CD3⁺) also was determined. RESULTS: We did not detect apoptosis by the “ladder” technique. However, the apoptotic index (the percentage of positive cells per total number of cells) ranged from 2% to 24% using flow cytometry. CONCLUSIONS: Trophoblast cells usually fail to stimulate alloantigen-specific T cells, but they may express nonclassical major histocompatibility complex alloantigens to which mothers can produce immunoglobulin G alloantibody, which requires T helper cell activation. The apoptosis of T cells in the human decidua, probably through Fas-FasL signaling, may be a defense mechanism against rejection of the fetal allograft by the maternal immune system.     

脑缺血再灌注后神经元和内皮细胞凋亡与Bc1-2和Bax表达的时相关系

目的　探讨大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注后受损伤的神经细胞和血管内皮细胞凋亡 ,以及Bcl 2和Bax蛋白表达与再灌注时间的关系。　方法　应用原位末端标记 (TUNEL)技术和免疫组织化学方法 ,分别观察脑缺血再灌注 2h、6h、12h、2 4h、2d、3d、7d、14d和 2 1d等不同时间点神经细胞和血管内皮细胞凋亡数及Bcl 2和Bax蛋白的表达。　结果　 1.脑缺血周围区 ,再灌注 2h神经细胞和内皮细胞凋亡开始明显增多 ,12～ 2 4h达高峰 ,之后逐渐减少 ,7～ 14d降至假手术组水平 ;血管内皮细胞凋亡迟于神经元凋亡约 12h。 2 .Bcl 2蛋白表达于缺血再灌注 2h开始逐渐增强 ,12～ 2 4h达高峰 ,之后逐渐下降 ,至 7～ 14d接近假手术组水平 ;3.Bax蛋白表达于缺血再灌注 6h开始逐步增高 ,2 4～ 4 8h达高峰 ,之后逐渐下降 ,至 14d与假手术组已无显著性差异。 4 .Bcl 2表达与细胞凋亡的时相变化基本一致 ,Bax表达时相迟于细胞凋亡。　结论　细胞凋亡是脑缺血再灌注损伤细胞死亡的形式之一 ,血管内皮细胞凋亡迟于神经细胞凋亡 ,Bcl 2和Bax参与细胞凋亡的调节。     

Apoptosis in the pattern formation of the ventricular wall during mouse heart organogenesis

Apoptosis is an important mechanism in organogenesis, but its role in heart development has been poorly characterized. We have here studied apoptosis in the developing ventricular wall of mouse embryonic heart. Developing mice hearts on days 11 to 16 of gestation were studied using in situ end‐labeling of degraded DNA (TUNEL), immunocytochemistry of regulatory genes Bcl‐2 and Bax, and light and electron microscopy. TUNEL end‐labeled apoptotic cells were found in the ventricular wall on days 11 to 16 of gestation. The proportions of apoptotic cells of all cells in the ventricular wall differed between the trabecular and compact regions (P = 0.003) and between the days of gestation (P = 0.0001), the calculated apoptotic index was greater in the compact region at all ages except day 14. Ultrastructural analysis showed typical apoptotic shrinkage, chromatin degradation, and apoptotic bodies in several myoblastic and myocardial endothelial cells which were also positive by DNA end‐labeling. Immunocytochemical reaction for the apoptosis checkpoint proteins in the ventricular wall showed clearly more Bcl‐2 positive cells than Bax positive cells. The numerical densities of all cells in the compact and trabecular regions remained always higher in the compact region (P = 0.04) despite the fact that apoptosis was present in both areas at the same time. In conclusion, apoptosis takes place in the developing myocardial muscle as well as the myocardial endothelium during ventricular morphogenesis on days 11 through 16 and decreases clearly on day 16. We suggest that apoptosis and its regulatory factors are closely involved in the morphogenesis of the ventricular wall of the mammalian heart. Anat Rec 256:208–217, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

CXCR2在不明原因自然流产患者绒毛和蜕膜组织中的表达

目的研究CXCR2在不明原因自然流产患者绒毛及蜕膜组织中的表达情况。方法应用免疫组织化学染色和图像分析技术,观察CXCR2在不明原因自然流产患者（病例组）和正常人工流产者（对照组）绒毛及蜕膜组织中的表达情况;HE染色后光镜下观察不明原因自然流产患者绒毛与蜕膜组织的形态学变化。结果免疫组化染色结果显示：两组CXCR2蛋白主要表达于绒毛的滋养层、蜕膜组织中的腺体,病例组绒毛滋养层和腺体CXCR2蛋白表达均强于对照组,两组比较,有显著性差异（P〈0.01）。病例组蜕膜细胞CXCR2蛋白呈阳性表达,对照组呈阴性;HE染色可见不明原因自然流产患者绒毛组织的滋养层变薄、滋养层细胞变性甚至坏死、滋养层嗜酸性增强、绒毛中轴纤维化程度增强;蜕膜组织中蜕膜细胞连接松散、蜕膜细胞空泡化、蜕膜组织中有大量炎细胞浸润。结论 CXCR2可能通过与其配体白细胞介素-8结合而参与不明原因自然流产的病理过程。     

细胞凋亡基因及相关蛋白在早期自然流产胎盘绒毛和蜕膜组织中的表达

目的探讨自然流产和正常人流患者胎盘绒毛和蜕膜组织细胞增殖与凋亡的变化规律,及相关细胞因子在胎盘组织生长发育中的表达意义。方法应用免疫组织化学、末端脱氧核糖核酸转移酶介导的缺口末端标记法（terminal de-oxynucleotidy transferase mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labing,TUNEL）检测第40-90天自然流产和正常人流患者胎盘组织中细胞凋亡的表达状况。结果第40-90天的正常人流患者的绒毛和蜕膜组织细胞的增殖占主导地位,大部分细胞增殖活跃,细胞的增殖与凋亡始终处于一种动态平衡;而自然流产患者的绒毛和蜕膜组织中,凋亡细胞的比例明显增大,细胞增殖与凋亡的动态平衡被打破。结论妊娠妇女胎盘组织内细胞凋亡比例增高,细胞增殖与凋亡的动态平衡被打破是自然流产发生的基础。     

Apoptosis in normal rat embryo tissues during early organogenesis: the possible involvement of Bax and Bcl-2

Apoptosis commonly occurs in a variety of developmental processes in mammals. In this study, we investigated the relationship between apoptosis and the expression of both Bax and Bcl-2 during the early organogenesis period (9.5-11.5 days of gestation) of rat embryos. Apoptotic cells detected by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick-end labeling (TUNEL) method were extremely abundant in the foregut diverticulum at 9.5 days of gestation, while they largely disappeared at 10.5 and 11.5 days of gestation, although they were detected in newly formed mid- and hindgut diverticulum at these times. Real-time RT-PCR analysis of whole embryos revealed that the expression of bax mRNA was constant at days 9.5 to 11.5, while the expression of bcl-2 mRNA gradually increased. Immunohistochemical studies of Bax and Bcl-2 expression revealed that these apoptotic cells were exactly positive to Bax in mirror sections, while their expression of Bcl-2 was generally too low to be detected. A disappearance of apoptotic cells was associated with strong Bcl-2 expression in the foregut diverticulum at 10.5 and 11.5 days of gestation. It was similarly observed that apoptotic cells detected in the cardiogenic area at 9.5 days of gestation disappeared with the formation of the primitive heart tube--accompanied by a strong expression of both Bcl-2 and Bax--in the developmental process of the primitive heart. Apoptotic cells were also observed in the primitive brain vesicle, optic vesicle, otic vesicle, and thyroid primordium at 10.5 and 11.5 days of gestation during the developmental process, with a strong expression of Bax. These results indicate that the Bax and Bcl-2 may be important in regulating the induction of embryonic cell apoptosis during early organogenesis.     

大鼠急性心肌缺血再灌注的心肌细胞凋亡研究

目的　为证实急性心肌缺血再灌注过程中存在着不同程度的心肌细胞凋亡现象 ,初步研究心肌细胞凋亡与Bcl 2 /Bax蛋白表达的关系。　方法　透射电镜观察心肌细胞的超微结构变化 ,抽提心肌组织DNA琼脂糖凝胶电泳 ,TUNEL法原位标记凋亡的心肌细胞 ,免疫组织化学技术和图像分析技术检测心肌细胞内Bcl 2 /Bax蛋白表达。　结果　缺血及再灌注组电镜观察心肌细胞出现典型凋亡超微结构特征 ,TUNEL染色可见不同程度的心肌细胞凋亡阳性反应 ,DNA电泳显示在缺血再灌注 2h出现明显的DNA条纹图像 ,再灌注组较缺血组心肌细胞中Bcl 2表达明显降低 (P <0 0 5 ) ,而Bax表达显著增高 (P <0 0 1)。　结论　急性心肌缺血及再灌注能诱导不同程度的心肌细胞凋亡 ,Bcl 2 /Bax基因对心肌细胞凋亡的发生有着重要的调控作用     

Apoptosis in human chorionic villi and decidua in normal and ectopic pregnancy

To investigate possible effects of implantation on apoptosis, we examined the cleavage of DNA in human chorionic villi and decidua in intrauterine and ectopic pregnancy. Very limited but detectable cleavage of DNA was recognized in the chorionic villi and decidua in normal pregnancy. A ladder pattern, characteristic of the apoptotic breakdown of DNA, was present in the villi in tubal pregnancy. High molecular weight DNA was predominant in the decidua in tubal pregnancy. Quantitative analysis of low molecular weight fragments of DNA revealed a significant increase in the villous tissue, together with a significant decrease in the decidual tissue, in tubal pregnancy as compared to those in normal pregnancy. An analysis in situ revealed that apoptotic cells were predominant in the syncytiotrophoblast in tubal pregnancy. In decidual tissue, labelled cells were occasionally seen in normal pregnancy, and their numbers decreased in tubal pregnancy. The present study demonstrates that apoptosis occurs in the villi, but not in the decidua in tubal pregnancy, unlike the situation in normal pregnancy. Our results suggest that the implantation site might affect the occurrence of apoptotic changes in early pregnancy of humans.      

Commitment of decidual haematopoietic progenitor cells in first trimester pregnancy

PROBLEM The aim of this study was to investigate the phenotype and commitment of decidual haematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) in healthy pregnant women and in women with early miscarriage. METHOD OF STUDY Peripheral blood and decidual tissue from healthy and pathological pregnant women were examined for HPCs and lymphoid progenitors using flow cytometric analysis. RESULTS Compared with peripheral blood, we found a significant increase in decidual HPCs in both healthy pregnant women and women with spontaneous abortion. T/NK, natural killer (NK), gamma-delta and NKT cell progenitors were identified in all peripheral blood and decidual samples. In pathologic pregnant women, the ratios of decidual T/NK and NK cell progenitors were significantly increased compared with healthy pregnant controls. CONCLUSION We demonstrated decidual cells with haematopoietic progenitor cell phenotype in human decidua. Increased levels of NK progenitors in the decidua of women with early spontaneous abortion suggest a dysregulation of this pathway that may contribute to pregnancy failure.