Phenotypic And Functional Characterization Of Dendritic Cells Induced From Different Gestational Ages Placental Tissues In Vitro

As the regulatory cells of immune response, dendritic cells (DCs) areattracting more and more attention in the field of immunological activityand immunological tolerance. From the research results of the past decade,it was confirmed that the maternal-fetal interface contained DCs. DCsmay play a pivotal role in immunological tolerance to fetal antigen andmay take part in the activation of parturition. However, the mechanismsof immunological tolerance to fetal antigen and the activation ofparturition are unknown. So, at first, we established the transendothelialtrafficking model according to the fact that monocyte-macrophages movefrom tissue to lymph nodes and develop into DCs during the process.Then, we seeded monocyte-macrophages separated from the normal termplacental tissues and second trimester placental tissues in the model. Aftermoving and trafficking for several days, The cells which reappeared onendothelial cells could obtain DCs' characters. This model imitateddifferentiation and development of monocyte-macrophages in vivo.Then, we compared phenotype and function of DCs derived from secondtrimester placental tissues with DCs derived from normal term placentaltissues. Results showed that, after cultured in the transendothelial trafficking model for 48h, the DC-like cells which derived from thenormal term placental monocyte-macrophages displayed characteristicmorphology, expressed higher level surface antigen of CD80, CD86,HLA-DR and CD45, stimulated the proliferation of allogenic T cells andleaded to a higher percentage of IFN-γ-producing cells. Moreover, theseDC-like cells expressed low levels of Fas-L on their surfaces. However,DC-like cells, origined from second trimester placental tissues, expressedlow levels of costimulating molecule such as CD80 and CD86, especiallyCD80, stimulated the proliferation of a lower percentage of allogenic Tcells and leaded to a higher percentage of IL-10-producing cells. Besides,cytokines from two kinds of DC-like cells were different. Thus, weconcluded that monocyte-macrophages separated from differentgestational ages placental tissues could be induced into DCs withdifferent function in the transendothelial trafficking model.