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Programming of Human Monocytes by the Uteroplacental Environment

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Abstract

During human pregnancy, monocytes recruited to the uterus (decidua) are modified to promote immune defense and semiallogeneic pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to identify decidual factors involved in programming of monocytes into decidual macrophages by comparing the surface and secretory phenotypes of resting and interferon-γ (IFN-γ)—activated monocytes, unfractionated decidual cells, purified term decidual macrophages, and monocyte-derived macrophages. Surface markers for antigen presentation (HLA-DR, CD86), a membrane-bound cytokine interleukin (IL)—15, leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptors (LILRB1, LILRB2), and secreted anti-inflammatory cytokines (transforming growth factor [TGF]—β1 and IL-10) were assessed. The results demonstrate that differentiated, activated monocytes closely resemble but are not identical to decidual macrophages. In addition to differential IFN- γ responsiveness, decidual macrophages were smaller than monocyte-derived macrophages and produced IL-10, which monocyte-derived macrophages did not. Only the unfractionated decidual cells secreted TGF-β1. These results suggest that activation, differentiation, and decidual signals cooperate to program monocytes into the decidual macrophage phenotype.

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Author notes

  1. Ramsey H. McIntire PhD

    Present address: Department of Ob/Gyn and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, 513 Parnassus Avenue, HSW 1671, Box 0556, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA

  2. Karen G. Ganacias BS

    Present address: Rush University Medical College, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA

    Ramsey H. McIntire PhD, Karen G. Ganacias BS & Joan S. Hunt PhD, DSc

Authors
  1. Ramsey H. McIntire PhD
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  2. Karen G. Ganacias BS
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  3. Joan S. Hunt PhD, DSc
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ramsey H. McIntire PhD.

Additional information

This study was supported by National Institutes of Health grants to JSH (HD24212; HD39878 Project III), and RHM was supported by the University of Kansas Medical Center Biomedical Training Grant.

The authors appreciate the gifts of mouse monoclonal anti-LILRB1 (M401) and anti-LILRB2 (M422) antibodies from Amgen, Inc. The assistance of S. Fernald, University of Kansas School of Medicine Image Analysis Center, with preparation of the figures is greatly appreciated.

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McIntire, R.H., Ganacias, K.G. & Hunt, J.S. Programming of Human Monocytes by the Uteroplacental Environment. Reprod. Sci. 15, 437–447 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1177/1933719107314065

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