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Faculty of Medical Sciences

Memory and regulatory T cell subsets in decidual tissue of pre-eclamptic patients

Vledder, A. (2017) Memory and regulatory T cell subsets in decidual tissue of pre-eclamptic patients. thesis, Medicine.

Full text available on request.

Abstract

Introduction During pregnancy, maternal lymphocytes at the maternal-fetal interface have a significant role in creating fetal tolerance. Maladaptation of the maternal immune system is related to pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia (PE). Regulatory T cells have a pivotal role in pregnancy success, and lower peripheral blood levels of regulatory T cells are associated with PE. Memory T cells possibly play a role in preventing pregnancy complications such as PE in subsequent pregnancies. In this study, we examined proportions of decidual memory T cell subsets and regulatory T cells of pregnancies complicated by PE and compared them with uncomplicated pregnancies. Methods Lymphocyte populations in decidua parietalis and basalis of PE patients (n=5) and healthy controls (n=13) were enzymatically isolated. Using a 8-color FACS panel, lymphocyte populations were analyzed using flowcytometry. Results We found significantly lower levels of activated CD4+ and CD8+ memory T cell populations in PE patients compared to healthy controls. In decidua parietalis of PE patients significantly lower CD4+ memory T cell levels were found compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, we found significantly lower levels of decidual CD4+ TREG cells in PE patients compared to healthy controls. Interestingly, CD103 expression by CD4+ and CD8+ TREG cells was significantly higher in decidual tissue of PE patients compared to healthy controls. Conclusion We conclude that the maternal adaptive immune system at the fetal-maternal interface of PE patients is less activated compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, our results suggest lower CD4+ memory T population levels in decidual tissue of PE patients. Further research is necessary to imply a causal relation between overall low expression of CD69 by decidual memory cells and the pathogenesis of PE.

Item Type: Thesis (Thesis)
Supervisor name: Prins, Dr. J.R. and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Faas, Dr. M.M. and Department of Pathology and Medical Biology and University Medical Center Groningen and University of Groningen
Faculty: Medical Sciences
Date Deposited: 25 Jun 2020 10:49
Last Modified: 25 Jun 2020 10:49
URI: https://umcg.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/1013

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