Syncytiotrophoblast plasma membrane inhibits membrane expression of activation markers on PHA-stimulated human lymphocytes.

ABSTRACT

Studies have been carried out on the effects of full-term human syncytiotrophoblast plasma membrane (STPM) preparations on the membrane expression of the lymphocyte activation markers HLA-DR, IL-2R, TfR and CD69 during PHA-induced lymphoproliferation. STPM considerably decreases the expression of both late (HLA-DR) and early (IL-2R, TfR, CD69) activation markers at doses which inhibit PHA-induced lymphoproliferation. These results favour the hypothesis that STPM inhibits a very early phase of PHA-induced lymphocyte activation.