Angiogenic DC-SIGN(+) cells are present at the attachment sites of epitheliochorial placentae

Immunol Cell Biol. 2010 Jan;88(1):63-71. doi: 10.1038/icb.2009.62. Epub 2009 Sep 15.

Abstract

Spontaneous early and mid-gestation fetal losses occur in swine. At both stages, endometrial lymphocytes associated with smaller, paler conceptuses have fewer pro-angiogenic and more pro-inflammatory cytokine transcripts compared with robust conceptuses. We hypothesized that similar differences occur in conceptus-associated dendritic cells (DCs). Using laser capture-microdissection, dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-grabbing non-integrin (DC-SIGN)(+) cells were isolated from attachment sites of healthy and arresting conceptuses at gestation day (gd)20 and 50. DC-SIGN(+) cells were screened using real-time PCR for vascular endothelial cell growth factor (Vegf), its receptors, semaphorins (Sema) and plexins (Plxn), and for toll-like receptor (Tlr) transcripts to address potential activation pathways. Homogenized endometrial and trophoblast biopsies were quantified for type 1/type 2 cytokine transcripts/proteins. DC-SIGN(+) cells from healthy and arresting conceptuses had more Vegf transcripts at early than mid gestation whereas transcripts for Vegfr1 and Vegfr2 were stable. In gd20 arresting site DC-SIGN(+) cells, Neuropilin-2 transcripts were elevated, whereas at gd50 arresting sites, Plxn-A2 increased and Sema3A transcripts were lost. Tlr-1, Tlr-4 and Tlr-6 transcript abundance was independent of conceptus health. At gd20, type 1 cytokines were prevalent, whereas at gd50 type 2 cytokines predominated in endometrium and trophoblast. Thus, gestational features, characteristic of haemochorial placentation, are present in species with distinctly different placentation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Adhesion
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / immunology*
  • Endometrium / cytology
  • Endometrium / immunology
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Lectins, C-Type / immunology*
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic*
  • Placenta / blood supply
  • Placenta / cytology*
  • Placenta / immunology*
  • Placenta / metabolism
  • Pregnancy
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / immunology*
  • Swine
  • Toll-Like Receptors / immunology
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / genetics
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / genetics

Substances

  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • DC-specific ICAM-3 grabbing nonintegrin
  • Lectins, C-Type
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Toll-Like Receptors
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2