Enhanced expression of Fas-associated proteins in decidual and trophoblastic tissues in pregnancy-induced hypertension

PROBLEM: To determine if feto-placental tissues from gestations complicated by pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) have altered expression of Fas-associated proteins. METHOD OF STUDY: The expression of several Fas-related proteins was determined in fetal membranes, decidua, and placentas obtained from PIH-affected (n = 12, age range 32-36 weeks) and normal (n = 6, age range 37-41 weeks) gestations. Paraffin-embedded tissue sections were stained with specific monoclonal antibodies to Fas, Fas ligand (FasL), caspase-3, and bax. RESULTS: We observed greater expression of Fas and FasL in amnion and decidua from PIH-affected gestations than in normal controls. Intense staining was observed only in the perivascular endothelium (caspase-3) and in decidual cells (bax) from PIH gestations. CONCLUSION: Differential expression of Fas-related proteins in fetal membranes, decidua, and placentas from PIH-affected gestations is consistent with increased apoptosis, and suggests activation of the Fas/FasL pathway in a tissue-specific manner.     

Monoclonal antibodies to human secretory "pregnancy-associated endometrial alpha 1-globulin," an insulin-like growth factor binding protein: characterization and use in radioimmunoassay, Western blots, and immunohistochemistry

Monoclonal antibodies were raised against pregnancy-associated endometrial alpha 1-globulin (alpha 1-PEG), a 32 KD insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGF-BP), which represents a major secretory product of the human decidualized endometrium during pregnancy. This class of IGF-BP has been implicated in the modulation of action, inhibitory and stimulatory, of insulin-like growth factors. Immunization with the protein purified from pregnancy endometrium resulted after myeloma fusion in the isolation of six hybridoma clones and the antibodies produced were characterized. The Ka of the antibodies ranged between 4.75 x 10(9) M-1 and 0.7 x 10(8) M-1. In Western blots all monoclonal antibodies reacted with purified protein of molecular weight 32 KD and specifically detected this IGF-BP species in culture medium and cytosolic extracts of pregnancy endometrium and amniotic fluid. The monoclonal antibodies appear to define three epitope-bearing regions as evidenced by their reactivity to polypeptide fragments of the protein. After synthesis and secretion by tissue explants in vitro the protein is susceptible to cleavage into fragments possessing different monoclonal antibody-defined reactivity. Employing immunohistochemical techniques the protein was principally localized to decidual cells in tissue sections of pregnancy endometrium and solely to these cells after enzymic digestion of the tissue. The implications of these results are discussed with respect to potential role of IGF-BP in the action of IGF upon the IGF-1 receptor-bearing populations, including lymphocytes and trophoblast cells, D in the decidua.     

Demonstration of the presence of IL-16, IL-17 and IL-18 at the murine fetomaternal interface during murine pregnancy

PROBLEM: To determine if interleukin-16 (IL-16), IL-17, and IL-18 are present at the murine fetomaternal interface during pregnancy as a first step towards investigating their roles in fetomaternal relationship. METHODS: Expression of IL-16, IL-17, and IL-18, was assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in the BALB/c x BALB/k (H2d x H2k), and the CBA/J x BALB/c non-abortion prone, and CBA/J x DBA/2 abortion prone matings. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were performed for the two latter cytokines to compare local production in the abortion prone CBA/J x DBA/2 versus the non-abortion prone CBA/J x BALB/c matings. RESULTS: Expression of IL-17 was borderline. The anti-IL-16 staining specifically localized in the uterine stroma and glandular epithelium and was rather low in the placenta. IL-18 staining started in the peri-implantation uterus in the basal proliferative stroma, and was also traced, although weaker, in the glandular epithelium. In the immediate post-implantation period, a weak stromal staining persisted but there was a strong labeling of the ectoplacental cone. Interestingly, when the ectoplacental cone differentiates into placenta having a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I + spongiotrophoblast and a (MHC class I-) labyrinth, a very strong transient labeling of uterine natural killer (u-NK) cells was found. Later in gestation, IL-18 was also produced by giant cell and spongiotrophoblast. Finally, we compared by ELISA the production of IL-17/-18 in CBA/J x DBA/2 and CBA/J x BALB/c matings. We detected significantly more IL-18 in the non-abortion prone combination decidua or placenta. CONCLUSION: The three cytokines IL-16, IL-17, and IL-18 were detected at the fetomaternal interface with a tissue specific, stage-dependent distribution. The predominance of IL-18 secretion in the non-resorption prone matings lead us to question the general validity of the classical T-helper (Th)1/2 paradigm.     

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。     

Spontaneous secretion of interleukin-4, interleukin-10 and interferon-gamma by first trimester decidual mononuclear cells

PROBLEM: A T-helper cell type 2 (Th2) cytokine dominated microenvironment has been predicted to be crucial for successful pregnancy. However, little information is available about local cytokine secretion in the human decidua. We determined the spontaneous secretion of interleukin-4 (IL-4), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and IL-10 by decidual mononuclear cells at the single cell level and compared it with their secretion by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in the first trimester of pregnancy. METHODS OF STUDY: The cytokine secretion from decidual and blood cells was detected by a sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot-forming cell (ELISPOT)-assay. RESULTS: Cells secreting IL-4 (median 153, range 8-530), IL-10 (median 188, range 32-1600) and IFN-gamma (median 123, range 15-1140) were detected in all decidual and blood samples. The cytokine secretion showed a co-linear pattern in both the blood and decidua, i.e. when one cytokine was secreted at high levels, the others followed the trend. No correlation was found between the number of cytokine secreting cells in blood and decidua for any of the cytokines. CONCLUSIONS: Interleukin-4 and IL-10 are locally secreted in the decidua early during normal pregnancy, probably counteracting the fetal rejecting effects of co-expressed IFN-gamma. The cytokine secretion by blood cells does not generally reflect the local secretion pattern during first trimester pregnancy.     

Effects of Mifepristone Compound on the Receptors of Estrogen and Progesterone in Early Pregnancy Deciduas

Mifeprlstone,a norethindrone, is the first synthetic effective steroid which canbind to the progesterone receptor with greater affinity than progesterone, but lacksthe agonistic effect. Its anti--progestin action results in the withdrawal of progesterone at cellular level to interrupt its biological action and can terminate early pregnancy['j. At present, the dose of mifepristone in combination with the analogue ofprostaglandin in terminating early pregnancy is 150 mg-- 200 mg and the complete…     

Effect of Mifepristone and Anordrin Compound on Levels of Estrogen and Progesterone Receptor mRNAs in Human Decidua of Early Pregnancy

Objective To provide the theoretical fundation for the further clinical application of mi fepristone and anordrin compound. Materials & Methods Ribonuclease protection assay was used for the detection and quantitation of estrogen and progesterone receptor mRNAs in human decidua from the termination of early pregnancy. Three groups, each of which had 6～8 cases, were studied. Results Compared to the normal control group, estrogen and progesterone receptor mRNAs increased significantly (P＜0.05) in the mifepristone group, whereas the changes in the group administrated mifepristone compound which contains anordrin were not obvious. Conclusions The result suggests that with the similar clinical effect, mifepristone compound has less side effect on the patients, thus being more suitable for the anti-ear ly pregnancy drug.     

不明原因习惯性流产患者蜕膜自然杀伤细胞活性及表型的研究

目的 :探讨原因不明习惯性流产 (UHA)患者蜕膜自然杀伤 (NK)细胞的数量、表型特征及杀伤活性 ,探讨其在UHA发病中的作用。方法 :选取确定妊娠并难免流产的UHA 32例 ,选取 2 0例正常妊娠行人工流产者作为对照组 ,用流式细胞仪检测两组蜕膜组织中NK细胞数量及表型 ,用改进的乳酸脱氢酶释放法测定NK细胞杀伤活性。结果 :正常早孕蜕膜中CD5 6+CD3- NK细胞占蜕膜单个核细胞的 60 .73± 13.2 4 % ,为蜕膜组织的优势细胞群 ,UHA患者蜕膜中CD5 6+CD3- NK细胞总量与正常妊娠蜕膜组织中相同 ,而其CD5 6+CD16- 亚群却明显低于正常妊娠组 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,CD5 6+CD16+亚群含量及CD5 6+CD16+/CD5 6+CD16- 比值均异常增高 (P均 <0 .0 5 )。UHA组蜕膜组织中NK细胞杀伤活性及其异常增高率均高于正常妊娠组 ,差异均有显著性 (P均 <0 .0 5 )。结论 :NK细胞是孕早期蜕膜组织中的优势细胞群 ,其亚群失衡及功能异常可导致自然流产     

复发性流产患者蜕膜中T淋巴细胞及其亚群变化的研究

目的:探讨复发性流产(RSA)与T淋巴细胞免疫功能的关系。方法:采用流式细胞仪与免疫荧光技术相结合,对20例RSA患者和16例正常早孕妇女蜕膜中T淋巴细胞及其亚群进行检测。结果:与对照组相比,RSA组患者蜕膜中总T淋巴细胞及CD4+T淋巴细胞百分率均升高(P(0.05),CD8+T淋巴细胞变化无显著性(P(0.05)。结论:蜕膜中T淋巴细胞亚群失衡可导致复发性流产。     

人工流产与反复自然流产蜕膜组织中凋亡调控基因的表达

目的:探讨人工流产与自然流产蜕膜组织中凋亡调控基因的表达。方法:人工流产和反复自然流产蜕膜组织各30份,应用免疫组织化学方法测定Bc l-2、Bax、P 53、Fas、FasL 5种调控基因在蜕膜组织中的蛋白表达。结果:Bc l-2的表达在人工流产组与自然流产组无明显差异(P>0.05);Bax在自然流产组中的表达较人工流产组明显增强(P<0.05);FasL的表达在自然流产组明显低于人工流产组(P<0.05);Fas表达自然流产组与人工流产组无明显差异(P>0.05);P 53蛋白在自然流产组的表达强于人工流产组(P<0.05)。结论:自然流产的发生有3条凋亡调控途径:一为Fas/FasL途径:由于滋养细胞表面FasL表达的减少,不能引起母体内特异性的活化T细胞的凋亡,导致母体对胚胎的排斥反应,引起自然流产;另一为Bc l-2/Bax途径:虽然Bc l-2的表达在人工流产与自然流产蜕膜中无明显差异,但由于Bax在早孕自然流产蜕膜组织中的表达明显增强,导致Bc l-2/Bax的表达量失衡而引起流产;再一为P 53途径:野生型的P 53增多诱发细胞凋亡而导致流产发生。