Journal article

Publication year: 2005

Pages: 631-637

Journal: Reproduction

Volume number: 129

Issue number: 5

ISSN: 1470-1626

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1530/rep.1.00331

Publisher: BioScientifica

Abstract: 
Our aim was to investigate the contribution of decidual macrophages, which constitute an important immune component of the decidua in late gestation, to intrauterine defence mechanisms. Using flow cytometry we examined the ability of decidual macrophages, isolated from term decidua, to bind and phagocytose fluorescence-label led bacterial and yeast bioparticles. We also assessed their ability to generate superoxide radicals and tumour necrosis factor-et following lipopolysaccharide challenge. Decidual macrophages bound bacterial and yeast particles in a dose-dependent manner, which subsequently led to phagocytosis. These macrophages also produced superoxide radicals and the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha when challenged with bacterial lipopolysaccharides. These results suggest a role for decidual macrophages in pathogen recognition and clearance during pregnancy, and, therefore, they are likely to protect the fetus against intrauterine infections which might otherwise lead to preterm labour.

Harvard Citation style: Singh, U., Nicholson, G., Urban, B., Sargent, I., Kishore, U. and Bernal, A. (2005) Immunological properties of human decidual macrophages - a possible role in intrauterine immunity, Reproduction, 129(5), pp. 631-637. https://doi.org/10.1530/rep.1.00331

APA Citation style: Singh, U., Nicholson, G., Urban, B., Sargent, I., Kishore, U., & Bernal, A. (2005). Immunological properties of human decidual macrophages - a possible role in intrauterine immunity. Reproduction. 129(5), 631-637. https://doi.org/10.1530/rep.1.00331