Methods for isolation of cells from the human fetal-maternal interface

Methods Mol Med. 2006:122:109-22. doi: 10.1385/1-59259-989-3:109.

Abstract

During human pregnancy, fetal placental cells known as trophoblast invade into the uterine mucosal lining, coming into contact with maternal cells including a specialized population of leukocytes. In order to understand the interaction of maternal cells with trophoblast, it is useful to be able to isolate the various cell types from the fetal-maternal interface so that they may be characterized and co-cultured in vitro. This chapter details the methods we use in our laboratory for enrichment and/or purification of trophoblast cells, decidual leukocytes, decidual natural killer cells, decidual stromal cells, and decidual glandular epithelial cells from human first-trimester tissue samples.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Separation / methods*
  • Epithelial Cells
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Humans
  • Killer Cells, Natural
  • Leukocytes
  • Placenta / cytology*
  • Pregnancy
  • Trophoblasts