Fetus-Placenta-Newborn
Localization of p43 placental isoferritin in human maternal-fetal tissue interface*,**

https://doi.org/10.1067/mob.2000.104145Get rights and content

Abstract

Objective: Human placental isoferritin, which is composed of a 43-kd protein subunit, is exclusively reactive with the CM-H9 monoclonal antibody. The p43 exerts immunosuppressive activity during pregnancy. The aim of this study was to localize the expression of p43 in the maternal-fetal tissue interface during normal gestation. Study Design: Villous tissues samples were collected between 5 and 20 weeks’ gestation and at term from uncomplicated pregnancies. Immunohistochemical localization of p43 was performed with CM-H9 monoclonal antibody. Results: During the first trimester p43 was highly expressed in syncytiotrophoblast, Hofbauer cells, and decidual macrophages. From 15 weeks’ gestation onward expression in the syncytiotrophoblast was below the level of detection; however, p43 was demonstrated in villous Hofbauer cells and decidual macrophages throughout gestation. Conclusions: Expression of p43 was demonstrated on both sides of the maternal-fetal tissue interface, with localization dependent on gestational age. This may suggest its immunologic function throughout pregnancy. First-trimester syncytiotrophoblast displayed high p43 levels, which disappeared later on, whereas maternal serum p43 level continued to increase, which suggests an extraplacental source for p43. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2000;182:670-4.)

Section snippets

Samples

Villous tissue and decidua were collected from 40 healthy pregnant women undergoing elective termination of a normal pregnancy between 5 and 20 weeks’ gestation and from 10 pregnant women at term, 5 at elective cesarean delivery and 5 after normal vaginal delivery. All pregnancies were uncomplicated with the fetal heart rate within normal range. Gestational age was determined from the menstrual history and confirmed by an ultrasonographic scan. Villous and decidual tissues were separated by

Results

First-trimester placental tissue exhibited positive immunostaining of p43 that was uniformly and consistently localized in the syncytiotrophoblast and Hofbauer cells within different types of villi, including stem (Fig 1, A and B ) and anchoring (Fig 1, C ) villi.

. A-D, Placental isoferritin immunolocalization in first-trimester villous and decidual tissues. A, Villous tissue at 7 weeks’ gestation, showing staining of syncytiotrophoblast and syncytial sprouts (arrows). B, Same sample as in A,

Comment

There was expression of p43 on both sides of the maternal-fetal tissue interface. Immunoreactivity was observed in the syncytiotrophoblast layer and Hofbauer cells, as well as in the population of macrophages in the maternal decidua. Likewise, expressions of other cytokines by the trophoblast and other cells in the normal placenta have been previously reported.13 Inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin 1, tumor necrosis factor α, and interleukin 6 were immunolocalized to the

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    *

    Supported by a research grant from Women First Health Care. R.M. was supported by a grant from the British Council.

    **

    Reprint requests: Ron Maymon, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Assaf Harofe Medical Center, affiliated to the Tel Aviv University, Zerifin 70300, Israel.

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