Immunological study of expression of CD1 in preimplantation and midgestation mouse embryo cells and placental trophoblasts and the role of decidual natural killer T cells at the feto-maternal interface

Expression of major histocompatibility complex molecules in the preimplantation embryo is important for control of development and immune recognition of the embryo by the mother. Four types of major histocompatibility complex class I molecules that have been identified are as follows: class Ia, class Ib, class Ic, and class Id. Expression of class Ic and class Id antigens in preimplantation embryos has not yet been fully evaluated. Cluster of differentiation 1 [CD1] molecule is a member of class Id antigen. Localization and regulation of CD1 expression remain unclear. The aim of this study was to detect expression of the CD1 molecule in a preimplantation mouse embryo at two-cell, four-cell, eight-cell, and blastocyst stages and in the embryo cells and placental trophoblasts at 10 days of gestation. Detection of invariant natural killer T [iNKT] cells in the decidua at the site of attachment of the placenta was also investigated. Mice of the C57BL/6 genetic background were used. Forty-eight female and 16 male mice of 10-12 weeks of age were divided into two groups. Group 1 included 24 female and eight male mice. Eight breeding colonies were constructed in which each cage contained one male and three female mice. The pregnant female mice were killed at 36, 48, 60, and 80 h of appearance of the vaginal plug to collect two-cell, four-cell, eight-cell, and blastocyst stages of embryos, respectively. The embryos were then processed for immunohistochemistry. Group 2 animals included 24 female and eight male mice. Eight breeding colonies were constructed in which each cage contained one male and three female mice. The pregnant female mice were killed at 10 days of gestation when embryo cells, placental cells, and decidual cells were isolated and processed for culturing and immunohistochemistry. This study showed no expression of CD1 molecules in any of the preimplantation mouse embryo stages till the blastocyst stage, but were detected on the cell surface and inside the cytoplasm of embryo cells and placental trophoblasts at 10 days of gestation. A high proportion of iNKT cells was also detected in the decidua at the site of attachment of the placenta. The CD1 molecule is not actively involved in the regulation of early development of embryo till the blastocyst stage, and the true biological role of CD1 in preimplantation development remains to be determined. However, it may play a role in the placenta and in embryo development during midgestation by preventing lysis of fetal and placental cells through an interaction with decidual iNKT cells at the feto-maternal interface

Interstitial and Langerhans' dendritic cells in chronic periodontitis and gingivitis

The aim of the present study was to compare quantitatively the distribution of dendritic cell subpopulations in chronic periodontitis and gingivitis. Fourteen biopsies from patients with chronic periodontitis and fifteen from patients with gingivitis were studied. An immunoperoxidase technique was used to quantify the number of Langerhans' cells (CD1a) and interstitial dendritic cells (factor XIIIa) in the oral and sulcular and junctional/pocket epithelia and in the lamina propria. A greater number of factor XIIIa+ dendritic cells in the lamina propria and CD1a+ dendritic cells in the oral epithelium were observed in gingivitis compared to the periodontitis group (p = 0.05). In the sulcular and junctional/pocket epithelia and in the lamina propria, the number of CD1a+ dendritic cells was similar in the gingivitis and periodontitis groups. In conclusion, the number of Langerhans' cells in the oral epithelium and interstitial dendritic cells in the lamina propria is increased in gingivitis compared to periodontitis, which may contribute to the different pattern of host response in these diseases.

La vía de CD1 y la activación de células T NK hacia los antígenos glicolipídicos de Mycobacterium tuberculosis / CD1 pathway and NK T Cell activation to glycolipid antigens from Mycobacterium

El objetivo de esta revisión es analizar el estado actual de nuestro conocimiento sobre las moléculas de superficie celular involucradas en la presentación de antígenos glicolipídicos, denominadas familia CD1. Estas proteínas constituyen la tercera clase de moléculas presentadoras de antígeno. Las proteínas CD 1 controlan diversas funciones inmunes importantes en la defensa del hospedero contra las infecciones microbianas. En años recientes estas proteínas han sido involucradas en la generación de una respuesta inmune celular contra Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Aquí, nosotros analizaremos aspectos relevantes acerca de las proteínas CD 1 y las células T específicas para antígenos glicolipídicos.

The aim of this review is to analyze the current state of our knowledge about cell surface molecules involved in glycolipid antigen presentation, named CD1 family. These proteins constitute a third class of antigen-presenting molecules. CD 1 molecules develop diverse important immune functions in host defenses against microbial infections. In recent years these proteins have been involved in the generation of cell-mediated immune response against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Here, we analyze relevant roles of CD1 proteins and glycolipid antigen-specific T cells.

Evidence for lipopolysaccharide-induced differentiation of RAW264.7 murine macrophage cell line into dendritic like cells.

Effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on RAW264.7 macrophage cell line was studied. LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells increased in cell size and acquired distinct dendritic morphology. At the optimal dose of LPS (1 mg/ml), almost 70% RAW264.7 cells acquired dendritic morphology. Flow cytometric studies indicate that the cell surface markers known to be expressed on dendritic cells and involved in antigen presentation and T cell activation (B 7.1, B 7.2, CD40, MHC class II antigens and CD1d) were also markedly upregulated on LPS-treated RAW 264.7 cells. Our results suggest the possibility that LPS by itself could constitute a sufficient signal for differentiation of macrophages into DC-like cells.