Abstract
Problem: Human first-trimester pregnancy decidua were found to contain large numbers of perforin (P)-containing cells, which varied in their membrane antigen phenotype. In this study results obtained by analyzing CD3- clones derived from human early pregnancy decidua and peripheral blood are reported. Method of Study: Decidual tissue was obtained from vaginal termination of first trimester normal human pregnancies. CD3- clones were generated by limiting dilution cloning after the depletion of CD3+ lymphocytes. The cell membrane phenotype was determined by flow cytometry. Perforin was detected by fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis of permeabilised cells. Serine esterases (SE) were identified by histochemical staining for BLT-esterase. Results: Cloned decidual cell populations retained the overall antigenic phenotype of freshly isolated decidual natural killer (NK)-like cells. All CD3- clones, either derived from decidua or from peripheral blood contained perforin. Serine esterases were present in every decidual clone analyzed. Conclusions: Limiting dilution cloning allows the clear-cut analysis of homogenous subsets of decidua-derived NK-like clones. The presence of large amounts of perforin in all of the CD3- clones underlines the extensive transcription of the perforin gene by NK-like lymphocytes.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 162-167 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | American Journal of Reproductive Immunology |
Volume | 38 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1997 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- CD3 clones
- Decidual granular lymphocytes
- Perforin
- Peripheral blood lymphocytes
- Serine esterases
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology
- Obstetrics and Gynecology