Berkowitz R S, Faris H M, Hill J A, Anderson D J
New England Trophoblastic Disease Center, Fearing Research Laboratory, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
Gynecol Oncol. 1990 Jun;37(3):396-400. doi: 10.1016/0090-8258(90)90375-u.
Monoclonal antibodies were used to localize and characterize leukocytes and cytokines in chorionic villi of normal placenta and complete mole. OKT4a reacted with Hofbauer cells in first-, second-, and third-trimester placentas. HLA-DR was expressed on second- and third-trimester placental Hofbauer cells but was not detected in the first trimester. The cytokines, gamma-interferon, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, interleukin-1 alpha, and tumor necrosis factor alpha, were all detectable on Hofbauer cells in first-, second-, and third-trimester placentas. None of the tested cytokine antibodies reacted with cellular constituents in complete molar chorionic villi. The absence of cytokine-positive cells in molar chorionic villi may be related to the hyperplastic and unregulated growth of molar villous trophoblast.
