RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To compare cytokine expression profiles of decidua basalis (containing trophoblast cells) and decidua parietalis (without trophoblast cells) for determination of microenvironments in human first trimester decidua. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: School of Medicine, RWTH University of Aachen, Aachen Germany, and Bourgognekliniek Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands. PATIENT(S): Forty-six women who had undergone elective first-trimester termination of viable pregnancy at 5 to 12 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Quantitative cytokine protein analysis in decidual tissues by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, qualitative cytokine messenger (m)RNA analysis in isolated decidual cell samples, and comparative mRNA and protein analysis in tissues of decidua basalis compared with decidua parietalis. RESULT(S): Interleukin-2, interferon-gamma (Th-1), interleukin-4 (Th-2), and interleukin-1beta proteins are expressed in the human first-trimester decidua. Interleukin-2, interferon-gamma, and interleukin-4 mRNA mainly derive from the decidual tissue leukocytes. Interleukin-1beta mRNA is expressed by all decidual cell types. Interferon-gamma mRNA and protein is detected predominantly in the decidua basalis, which contains trophoblast cells. CONCLUSION(S): Microenvironments are established topographically by different expression of cytokines in decidua basalis and decidua parietalis. These locally specific patterns are indicative of fetomaternal cross-talk. Higher interferon-gamma concentrations in decidua basalis may influence leukocyte differentiation (e.g., macrophage activation) and trophoblast invasion (e.g., by induction of expression of major histocompatibility complex).
