Wierzba-Bobrowicz T, Kosno-Kruszewska E, Gwiazda E, Lechowicz W, Schmidt-Sidor B
Department of Neuropathology, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warszawa, Poland.
Folia Neuropathol. 2001;39(2):49-56.
The ability of the specific immune response of organisms is determined by the possibility of synthesis, transport and presentation of the major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC II) molecules on the surface of antigen-presenting cells. MHC II molecules are responsible for the binding, transport and presentation of a foreign antigen to helper T lymphocytes. They also stimulate the multiplication of specific B lymphocytes and determine the type of antibodies produced. The expression of MHC II molecules on the cellular surface of the spinal cord in cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral regions was studied on 30 normal human foetuses between 11 and 22 weeks of gestation (GW) and 9 foetuses with genetic defects (Down syndrome, mucopolysaccharidosis, mucoviscidosis or Nori's syndrome) between 17 and 22 GW. The immunocytochemical presence of MHC II molecules was found in all regions of the spinal cord in both groups of foetuses, normal and pathological, during the whole interval under study. The molecules were dispersed in the grey and white matter of the spinal cord and located most frequently on the surface of cells, near the central canal and blood vessels. These cells corresponded morphologically and immunocytochemically with amoeboid and ramified microglia. No differences in MHC II expression between the spinal cord regions or between normal foetuses and those with genetic defects were noted. It seems likely that such an early occurrence of MHC II expression in the spinal cord of foetuses with normal development, as well as the absence of abnormalities in this expression in foetuses with genetic defects, may indicate the significant role of these molecules in the immunological protection of the foetus and thus ensuring normal embryogenesis.
生物体特异性免疫反应的能力取决于主要组织相容性复合体II类（MHC II）分子在抗原呈递细胞表面合成、运输和呈递的可能性。MHC II分子负责将外来抗原结合、运输并呈递给辅助性T淋巴细胞。它们还刺激特定B淋巴细胞的增殖，并决定所产生抗体的类型。在30例妊娠11至22周（GW）的正常人类胎儿以及9例妊娠17至22周的有基因缺陷（唐氏综合征、黏多糖贮积症、囊性纤维化或诺里氏综合征）的胎儿中，研究了颈、胸、腰和骶段脊髓细胞表面MHC II分子的表达情况。在整个研究期间，在正常和病理两组胎儿的脊髓所有区域均发现了MHC II分子的免疫细胞化学存在。这些分子分散在脊髓的灰质和白质中，最常位于细胞表面、中央管和血管附近。这些细胞在形态学和免疫细胞化学上与阿米巴样和分支状小胶质细胞一致。未发现脊髓区域之间或正常胎儿与有基因缺陷胎儿之间MHC II表达存在差异。发育正常的胎儿脊髓中MHC II表达如此早期出现，以及有基因缺陷的胎儿在该表达中无异常，这可能表明这些分子在胎儿免疫保护中起重要作用，从而确保正常胚胎发生。
