Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are capable of self-renewal and differentiation into lineages of mesenchymal tissues that are currently under investigation for a variety of therapeutic applications. The purpose of this study was to compare cytokine gene expression in MSCs from human placenta, cord blood (CB) and bone marrow (BM). The cytokine expression profiles of MSCs from BM, CB and placenta (...

AIMS To show the presence of HIV infected cells in the placentas and membranes exposed to HIV during pregnancy, and to trace the possible transmission routes from mother to fetus. METHODS Twenty three therapeutic abortions and 11 term placentas were investigated for the presence of HIV antigen by immunostaining with HIV core protein specific antibodies and HIV nucleic acids by in situ hydridi...

We previously reported that decidual stromal cells (DSC) from early human decidua express antigens associated with hematopoietic cells and develop different immune functions. Here we study the antigenic phenotype of DSC from term decidua and compare it with the phenotype reported for DSC from early decidua. Decidual stromal cells were isolated from human term deciduas and maintained in culture ...

The aim of this study was to assess placental changes and reproductive outcomes in neonatally induced mild diabetic dams and fetal development in their offspring. At birth, female rats were assigned either to control or diabetic group (100 mg of streptozotocin/Kg, subcutaneously). At adulthood, the female rats were mated. During pregnancy, the blood glucose levels and glucose and insulin tolera...

Accumulating evidences have demonstrated that TCRαβ+CD3+CD4-CD8NK1.1-double negative regulatory T cells (DN Tregs) are highly potent immune suppressors and play an important role in down regulating immune responses in autoimmunity, transplant rejection, graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). Whether human DN Tregs play a role in maternal-fetal immunological tolerance hasn’t been reported yet. In the...

BACKGROUND Approximately 45-50 % of the recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) remain(s) unexplained that challenges its clinical management. Formation and development of placenta as well as angiogenesis are critical for successful pregnancy. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and connexin 43 (Cx43) play important roles in angiogenesis and placenta development and aberration of these have been l...

We have examined the existence and distribution of fibrillin-1 within the endometrium and decidua to ascertain the effect of decidualization upon its synthesis, and its relationship to other extracellular matrix proteins. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues were stained using monoclonal antibodies to collagen IV, elastin, fibrillin-1 and laminin, by immunocytochemistry. Fibrillin-1 was pr...

Natural killer (NK) cells are the main lymphoid population in the maternal decidua during the first trimester of pregnancy. Decidual NK (dNK) cells display a unique functional profile and play a key role in promoting tissue remodeling, neoangiogenesis, and immune modulation. However, little information exists on their origin and development. Here we discovered CD34(+) hematopoietic precursors i...

Decidual and uterine natural killer (NK) cells have been shown to contribute to the successful pregnancy both in humans and mice. NK cells represent "cytotoxic" group 1 innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) and are distinct from the recently described "helper" ILC1. Here, we show that both in humans and mice the majority of group 1 ILC in endometrium/uterus and decidua express Eomesodermin (Eomes), thus...

Here we describe an unusual case of decidualized endometriosis detected in pelvic lymph nodes. The presence of intranodal ectopic decidua in pregnant women has been described. A few cases of decidualization of endometriotic foci in the pelvic or para-aortic lymph nodes have also been associated with pregnancy. However, decidualized intranodal endometriosis occurring in a postmenopausal woman ha...