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- Title
Involvement of Hofbauer cells and maternal T cells in villitis of unknown aetiology.
- Authors
Kim, J-S; Romero, R; Kim, M R; Kim, Y M; Friel, L; Espinoza, J; Kim, C J
- Abstract
Aims: The nature of villitis of unknown aetiology (VUE) is intriguing in terms of its aetiology, origin of inflammatory cells and immunophenotype of T cells involved. The aim was to determine the origin of macrophages and the immunophenotype of T lymphocytes in VUE associated with various complications of pregnancy. Methods and results: Placentas with VUE ( n = 45) were studied by chromogenic in-situ hybridization (CISH) for Y chromosome (DYZ1) and immunohistochemistry for CD14, CD68, Ki67 ( n = 10; all from male neonates) and a panel of T-cell antigens (CD3, CD4 and CD8) ( n = 35). All of the placentas from male neonates showed CISH+ signals from Y chromosomes in the majority of macrophages, but not in lymphocytes, indicating that the macrophages were of fetal origin. Many macrophages of the affected chorionic villi were Ki67+, suggesting that they are hyperplastic Hofbauer cells. Among the lymphocytes, CD8+ T cells outnumbered CD4+ T cells in all placentas with different obstetrical conditions. Conclusions: We define primary components of VUE as maternal CD8+ T cells and hyperplastic Hofbauer cells. We propose that VUE is a unique inflammatory reaction where the leucocytes from two hosts are key partners, analogous to either allograft rejection or graft-versus-host disease.
- Subjects
T cells; MACROPHAGES; PREGNANCY complications; IN situ hybridization; ANTIGENS
- Publication
Histopathology, 2008, Vol 52, Issue 4, p457
- ISSN
0309-0167
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1365-2559.2008.02964.x