DC-SIGN expression in Hofbauer cells may play an important role in immune tolerance in fetal chorionic villi during the development of preeclampsia

• Published in: Journal of reproductive immunology 2017-11, Vol.124, p.30-37
• Main Authors: Yang, Seung Woo, Cho, Eun Hee, Choi, So Young, Lee, Yun Kyung, Park, Jae Hyun, Kim, Min Kyung, Park, Jin Yeon, Choi, Hyeong Jwa, Lee, Jeong Ik, Ko, Hyun Myung, Park, Seung Hwa, Hwang, Han Sung, Kang, Young Sun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Antigens, CD - metabolism; Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic - metabolism; Cell Adhesion Molecules - metabolism; Cells, Cultured; Chorionic Villi - pathology; Dendritic cell-specific ICAM-grabbing non-integrin; Female; Gene Expression Regulation; Histiocytes - immunology; Histiocytes - metabolism; Hofbauer cell; Humans; Immune Tolerance; Interleukin-10 - metabolism; Lectins, C-Type - metabolism; Lipopolysaccharide Receptors - metabolism; Macrophages - immunology; Pre-Eclampsia - immunology; Preeclampsia; Pregnancy; Receptors, Cell Surface - metabolism
• ISSN: 0165-0378; 1872-7603
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2017.09.012

•DC-SIGN expressed Hofbauer cells reveals CD163 expression with IL-10 producing.•These DC-SIGN expressed Hofbauer cells decreased in preeclampsia placenta.•DC-SIGN expressed Hofbauer cells may plays a role of immune tolerance M2 macrophages.•Decrease of these cells might relate to preeclampsia development in aspect of failure of immune tolerance. Immune tolerance at feto-maternal interfaces is a complex phenomenon. Although maternal decidual macrophages are well-known immune cells, little is known about fetal-derived macrophages (Hofbauer cells) within chorionic villi. Preeclampsia (PE) is a major cause of maternal mortality in the field of obstetrics, and the innate immunological role of maternal decidual macrophages is well known. In this study, we assessed the differential phenotypes and marker expression in fetal macrophages, known as dendritic cell-specific ICAM-grabbing non-integrin (DC-SIGN)-positive Hofbauer cells. We compared Hofbauer cell properties between normal and PE placenta chorionic villi and performed sequential staining of DC-SIGN, CD14, and CD68 to evaluate the existence of Hofbauer cells. Furthermore, to evaluate the immunological function of these cells, we stained the cells for CD163, a marker of immunoregulatory type 2 (M2) macrophages. Additionally, we examined the expression of the immunosuppressive cytokine interleukin (IL)-10, which is known to be produced by M2 macrophages. DC-SIGN+/CD14+, DC-SIGN+/CD68+, and CD163+/DC-SIGN+ cells were quantified based on photomicrographs. The results showed that CD14, CD163, DC-SIGN, and IL-10 levels were significantly downregulated in PE compared with normal. Additionally, CD163+/DC-SIGN+ Hofbauer cells were significantly less frequent in PE than in normal. DC-SIGN Hofbauer cells produced IL-10 at lower levels in the PE than in the normal. Thus, we speculate that fetal-derived Hofbauer cells may play an important role in normal pregnancy with immunosuppressive effects based on their M2 macrophage characteristics to maintain immune tolerance during pregnancy. Additionally, in PE, these functions were defective, supporting the roles of these macrophages in PE development.