ABSTRACTS: 9
Phenotype characterization of the anti-inflammatory behavior of decidual endothelial cells

Problem:  During pregnancy, an adequate inflammatory control is essential for normal intrauterine foetus development. Vascular endothelium is known to play a critical role in regulation of inflammatory processes. We hypothesize a different ability of decidual endothelial cells (DEC) compared to endothelium from other districts to respond to inflammatory stimuli. Material and Methods:  DEC were isolated and activated with inflammatory stimuli and their response in term of adhesion molecules expression, vascular leakage and cytokines production was evaluated. These data were compared to the data obtained with HUVEC and microvascular endothelial cells isolated from human skin (ADMEC) and from …

Phenotype characterization of the anti-inflammatory behavior of decidual endothelial cells

C1q is involved in human trophoblast invasion

During the development of human placenta, extravillous trophoblast (EVT) departs from anchoring chorionic villi and invades the maternal decidua. Immunohistochemical analysis of decidua obtained from voluntary abortions showed that C1q was widely distributed in the decidual stroma with intense staining around invading trophoblast, while undetectable in non pregnant uterus. Based on these findings, we hypothesized that C1q may be involved in the migration of EVT. To this end, we investigated the ability of EVT to adhere to solid-phase bound C1q and to migrate using a transwell model system with inserts coated with C1q. Our results showed that EVT strongly adhered to C1q to an extent similar …

Decidual endothelial cells express surface-bound C1q as a molecular bridge between endovascular trophoblast and decidual endothelium.

This study was prompted by the observation that decidual endothelial cells (DECs), unlike endothelial cells (ECs) of blood vessels in normal skin, kidney glomeruli and brain, express surface-bound C1q in physiologic pregnancy. This finding was unexpected, because deposits of C1q are usually observed in pathologic conditions and are associated with complement activation. In the case of DECs, we failed to detect immunoglobulins and C4 co-localized with C1q on the cell surface. Surprisingly, DECs expressed mRNA for the three chains of C1q and secreted detectable level of this component in serum-free medium. The ability to synthesize C1q is acquired by DECs during pregnancy and is not shared by…