Decidual memory T‐cell subsets and memory T‐cell stimulatory cytokines in early‐ and late‐onset preeclampsia

• Published in: American journal of reproductive immunology (1989) Vol. 84; no. 4; pp. e13293 - n/a
• Main Authors: Kieffer, Tom E. C., Laskewitz, Anne, Vledder, Annegé, Scherjon, Sicco A., Faas, Marijke M., Prins, Jelmer R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Denmark Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.10.2020; John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subjects: Adult; Antigens, CD - metabolism; Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte - metabolism; Biopsy; CCR7 protein; CD103 antigen; CD4 antigen; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; CD69 antigen; CD8 antigen; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Cell activation; Cytokines; Cytokines - metabolism; Decidua; Decidua - immunology; Disease Progression; early‐onset preeclampsia; Etiology; Female; Fetuses; Flow cytometry; Foxp3 protein; Gene expression; Humans; Immune Cells in Pregnancy; Immune Tolerance; Immunologic Memory; Immunological memory; Immunological tolerance; Interferon; Interleukin 1; Interleukin 10; Interleukin 15; Interleukin 2; Interleukin 23; Interleukin 6; Interleukin 7; Interleukin 8; late‐onset preeclampsia; Lectins, C-Type - metabolism; Lymphocyte Activation; Lymphocytes T; memory T cell; Original; Pre-Eclampsia - immunology; Preeclampsia; Pregnancy; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - immunology; late-onset preeclampsia; memory T cell; decidua; early-onset preeclampsia; pregnancy
• ISSN: 1046-7408; 1600-0897
• DOI: 10.1111/aji.13293

Problem Preeclampsia is a major cause of fetal and maternal mortality and morbidity. Disturbed fetal‐maternal immune tolerance, and therewith memory T cells, might be involved in its etiology. This study aims to give insight into memory T‐cell populations and its associated cytokines in the decidual layers in early‐onset preeclampsia (EO‐PE) and late‐onset preeclampsia (LO‐PE). Method of Study Lymphocytes were isolated from the decidua parietalis and basalis from EO‐PE (n = 6), LO‐PE (n = 8) and healthy (n = 15) pregnancies. CD4+ and CD8+ central‐ (CCR7+), effector‐ (CCR7−), tissue resident‐ (CD103+), and regulatory‐ (Foxp3+) memory cell (CD45RO+) populations and their activation status (CD69+) were analyzed using flow cytometry. qRT‐PCR analysis was performed on decidua parietalis and basalis biopsies to detect mRNA expression of interferon‐gamma, interleukin‐1B, IL2, IL6, IL7, IL8, IL10, IL15, and IL23. Results CD4+ central‐memory (CM) cell proportions were lower in the decidua parietalis in LO‐PE (P < .0001) and EO‐PE (P < .01) compared to healthy pregnancies. CD8+ memory (P < .05) and CD8+ CM (P < .01) cell proportions were also lower in the decidua parietalis in EO‐PE compared to healthy pregnancies. This was accompanied by higher IL15 (P < .05) and IL23 (P < .05) and lower IL7 (P < .05) mRNA expression in decidua basalis biopsies from EO‐PE compared to healthy pregnancies, analyzed by qPCR. Conclusion In conclusion, decidual memory T‐cell proportions, their activation status, and associated cytokines are altered in preeclampsia and might therefore be involved in fetal‐maternal immune tolerance and the pathophysiology of preeclampsia.