ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of exogenous cytokine-stimulated decidual cells on IgG secretion of B lymphocytes and investigate the features of local immunological microenvironment of the decidua.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Exogenous cytokines interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-6 and epidermal growth factor (EGF) were added separately in cultured decidual cells, and the supernatant of the culture medium was prepared for stimulating human peripheral blood lymphocytes. IgG secretion of the B cells was measured by radio-immunological method.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The decidual cells of normal early pregnancy stimulated B lymphocyte IgG secretion, and the supernatant of exogenous cytokine-stimulated decidual cells had the same effect, which, however, was depended not on the concentration and category of the cytokines, but only on the time of treatment.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The exogenous cytokines can increase the humoral immunity in the decidual immunological microenvironment, but such effect might result from a self-regulatory mechanism of the local immunological microenvironment of the decidua, which can be fundamental for maintenance of normal pregnancy.</p>
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Humans , Pregnancy , B-Lymphocytes , Cell Biology , Metabolism , Cells, Cultured , Culture Media, Conditioned , Pharmacology , Cytokines , Pharmacology , Decidua , Cell Biology , Metabolism , Immunoglobulin G , Interferon-gamma , Pharmacology , Interleukin-2 , Pharmacology , Pregnancy Trimester, FirstABSTRACT
Objective To investigate whether matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) was synthesized in pregnant cervix during parturition and its source and distribution. Methods Cervical species (n=10, each weighing about 0.3 g) were taken from pregnant women immediately after delivery. Other cervical species (n=7) were served as negative control from those non-pregnant women but undergoing uterotomy due to other benign diseases. Immunohistochemical method (ABC) was carried out to detect the expression of MMP-9, with a monoclonal antibody against MMP-9. Results Positive staining of MMP-9 was found in the cytoplasm of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) that had infiltrated into cervix or located in blood vessels of cervix. Scattered light positive staining were found in some interstitial cells of the cervix. No other cells including fibrocytes and lymphocytes were positive to MMP-9. No positive staining was found in control tissues. Conclusion There are strong expressions of MMP-9 in pregnant cervix in term labor, derived mainly from infiltrated PMN. MMP-9 may be an important regulator in the process of cervical ripening.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate whether matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) was synthesized in pregnant cervix during parturition and its source and distribution. Methods Cervical species (n=10, each weighing about 0.3 g) were taken from pregnant women immediately after delivery. Other cervical species (n=7) were served as negative control from those non-pregnant women but undergoing uterotomy due to other benign diseases. Immunohistochemical method (ABC) was carried out to detect the expression of MMP-9, with a monoclonal antibody against MMP-9. Results Positive staining of MMP-9 was found in the cytoplasm of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) that had infiltrated into cervix or located in blood vessels of cervix. Scattered light positive staining were found in some interstitial cells of the cervix. No other cells including fibrocytes and lymphocytes were positive to MMP-9. No positive staining was found in control tissues. Conclusion There are strong expressions of MMP-9 in pregnant cervix in term labor, derived mainly from infiltrated PMN. MMP-9 may be an important regulator in the process of cervical ripening.