This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Singh, U. Articles by Bernal, A. L. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Singh, U. Articles by Bernal, A. L.

Immunological properties of human decidual macrophages – a possible role in intrauterine immunity

¹ Nuffield Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK, ² Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK, ³ Institute for Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University, Frankfurter Strasse 107, 35392 Giessen, Germany, ⁴ Clinical Science at South Bristol (Obstetrics & Gynaecology), Level D, St Michael’s Hospital, Southwell Street, Bristol BS2 8EG, UK

Correspondence should be addressed to A López Bernal; Email: a.lopezbernal{at}bristol.ac.uk

Our aim was to investigate the contribution of decidual macrophages, which constitute an important immune component of the decidua in late gestation, to intrauterine defence mechanisms. Using flow cytometry we examined the ability of decidual macrophages, isolated from term decidua, to bind and phagocytose fluorescence-labelled bacterial and yeast bioparticles. We also assessed their ability to generate superoxide radicals and tumour necrosis factor- following lipopolysaccharide challenge. Decidual macrophages bound bacterial and yeast particles in a dose-dependent manner, which subsequently led to phagocytosis. These macrophages also produced superoxide radicals and the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF- when challenged with bacterial lipopolysaccharides. These results suggest a role for decidual macrophages in pathogen recognition and clearance during pregnancy, and, therefore, they are likely to protect the fetus against intrauterine infections which might otherwise lead to preterm labour.