Focal Increases of Fetal Macrophages in Placentas from Pregnancies with Histological Chorioamnionitis: Potential Role of Fibroblast Monocyte Chemotactic Proteina1

• Published in: American journal of reproductive immunology (1989) 2011-05, Vol.65 (5), p.470-479
• Main Authors: Toti, Paolo, Arcuri, Felice, Tang, Zhonghua, Schatz, Frederick, Zambrano, Eduardo, Mor, Gil, NivenaFairchild, Tracy, Abrahams, Vikki M, Krikun, Graciela, Lockwood, Charles J, Guller, Seth
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cell culture; Chorioamnionitis; Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; Fetuses; Fibroblasts; Gene expression; Immunohistochemistry; Inflammation; Interleukin 1; Leukocytes; Lipopolysaccharides; Macrophages; Monocyte chemoattractant protein 1; Monocytes; mRNA; Neonates; peptidoglycans; Placenta; Polymerase chain reaction; Pregnancy; Tumor necrosis factor- alpha; Villus
• ISSN: 1046-7408; 1600-0897
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0897.2010.00927.x

Citation Toti P, Arcuri F, Tang Z, Schatz F, Zambrano E, Mor G, Niven-Fairchild T, Abrahams VM, Krikun G, Lockwood CJ, Guller S. Focal increases of fetal macrophages in placentas from pregnancies with histological chorioamnionitis: potential role of fibroblast monocyte chemotactic protein-1. Am J Reprod Immunol 2011; 65: 470-479 Problem Histopathological chorioamnionitis (HCA) is caused by microbial-driven infiltration of leukocytes to the maternal-fetal interface resulting in adverse neonatal outcomes in a subset of pregnancies. The role of placental villus macrophages (i.e. Hofbauer cells, HBCs) in the pathophysiology of HCA is unelucidated. Method of study The number of HBCs in human term placental villi in HCA and control groups was compared using immunohistochemistry. Levels of monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP-1) expression were measured in primary cultures of syncytioytrophoblasts (SCTs) and fibroblasts (FIBs) treated with bacterial compounds [lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and peptidoglycan] and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF- alpha and IL-1 beta ) using ELISA and quantitative real-time PCR. Results Immunohistochemistry revealed a focal increase in HBCs in HCA. Treatment of FIBs with LPS, IL-1 beta , and TNF- alpha significantly increased MCP-1 mRNA and protein expression. Conversely, MCP-1 mRNA and protein levels were virtually undetectable in treated and untreated SCTs. Conclusion These results demonstrate cell-type-specific regulation of MCP-1 expression in human placenta. A model is presented in which bacterial products and inflammatory cytokines initiate a fibroblast-driven cytokine cascade resulting in recruitment of fetal monocytes to placenta which focally increases levels of HBCs in pregnancies complicated by HCA.