Phenotypic characterization of CD7+, CD3+, and CD8+ lymphocytes from first trimester human decidua using two-color flow cytometry.

PROBLEM

There is increasing evidence that decidual lymphocytes play a major role in local interactions at the fetomaternal interface.

METHOD

In this paper we use two-color flow cytometry to delineate the phenotype of lymphocytes obtained from human early decidua by mechanical dispersal technique.

RESULTS

The most abundant decidual lymphocytes expressed CD7, CD38, CD56, and CD2 markers, relatively small proportions of CD3+, CD8+, CD4+, CD16+, CD45RA+, CD11b+, and Leu8+ cells were also present. The vast majority of decidual CD7+ lymphocytes expressed CD38, CD2, and CD56 markers and were CD3-, CD8-, CD16-, and CD57-. Decidual CD3+ lymphocytes were weakly staining for TCR alpha/beta, lacked T-cell receptor (TCR) gamma/delta molecules, and approximately 40% of them expressed HLA-DR. All decidual CD8+ lymphocytes were CD2+ and the majority of them expressed CD38, CD56, and CD7 markers and were CD3- at the same time CD8+CD7- lymphocytes were found in decidua. According to the expression of the CD45RA marker, decidual CD8+ lymphocytes could be divided into two subsets: CD8+CD45RA+CD56+ and CD8+CD45RA-.

CONCLUSIONS

These data clearly demonstrate that decidual lymphocytes display phenotypical features different from those of their counterparts in peripheral blood.