ABSTRACT
Several studies have shown that decidual tissue produces soluble factors which can regulate a variety of immunosuppressive activities, but the cell type and the molecule responsible is not clearly defined. This study was performed in order to assess 1] whether active Transforming Growth Factor Beta [TGF beta] was present in decidual supernatants produced by explants, cell suspensions and endometrial granulated lymphocytes [eGL] [CD56+CD16-CD3-], and 2] define whether eGL acts as a major decidual suppressor cell for production of TGF beta in early pregnancy decidua. TGF beta assay was applied using TGF beta -sensitive CCL-64 mink lung epithelial cell line [Mv/Lu]. The supernatants from 10 human specimens of early pregnancy decidua were used in the assay in their native state, after acidification and after treatment with anti-TGF beta. The present study showed that decidual supernatants contain both TGF beta activity in which eGL CD56-positive cells have an important role in production of this suppressor factor. Studies of TGF beta activity in pathological pregnancy may be worthwhile to elucidate whether this molecule is critical for survival of the fetoplacental unit