Recognition of trophoblasts by γδ T cells

Kent Heyborne, Yang Xin Fu, Andrew Nelson, Andrew Farr, Rebecca O'Brien, Willi Born

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

104 Scopus citations

Abstract

The juxtaposition of maternal and fetal tissues in the hemochorial placenta has led to speculation that maternal recognition of fetal Ags present on trophoblasts might play an important role in reproductive biology. We report here for the first time such recognition of trophoblasts by T lymphocyte hybridomas representative of certain cells present in the maternal decidua. Trophoblast recognition is TCR dependent and is mediated by members of the Vγ1+ subset of γδ T lymphocytes, a population that we previously have shown to be associated with heat shock protein-60 reactivity. Recognition occurred in experiments in which trophoblast clones or freshly prepared trophoblasts were used and requires cell-cell interaction. Although the maternal-fetal immune relationship typically has been cast in terms of an allograft, the T cell recognition of trophoblasts as described herein is not MHC-restricted, inasmuch as freshly prepared trophoblasts from β2- microglobulin-deficient mice were found to be stimulatory. Furthermore, the trophoblast ligand that mediates this recognition is probably a conserved mammalian molecule, because a human trophoblast cell line is also stimulatory. Our findings suggest a novel form of T cell recognition, and may provide an enhanced understanding of the maternal-fetal immune relationship.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2918-2926
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Immunology
Volume153
Issue number7
StatePublished - Oct 1 1994

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology

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