1. The possible role of virus-specific CD8+ memory T cells in decidual tissue.
- Author
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van Egmond, A., van der Keur, C., Swings, G.M.J.S, Scherjon, S.A., and Claas, F.H.J.
- Subjects
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DECIDUA , *T cells , *CD8 antigen , *PHENOTYPES , *PERFORINS , *GRANZYMES - Abstract
The most abundant lymphocyte present in decidual tissue is the CD8 + T cell. It has been shown that most decidual CD8 + T cells have an effector-memory phenotype, but expressed reduced levels of perforin and granzyme B compared with the peripheral CD8 + effector-memory T cells. The specificity of these CD8 + memory T cells has yet to be determined. One hypothesis is that the decidual memory T cells are virus-specific T cells that should protect the fetus against incoming pathogens. As virus-specific CD8 + memory T cells can cross-react with human leukocyte alloantigens, an alternative, but not mutually exclusive, hypothesis is that these CD8 + T cells are fetus-specific. Using virus-specific tetramers, we found increased percentages of virus-specific CD8 + T cells in decidual tissue compared with peripheral blood after uncomplicated pregnancy. So far, no evidence has been obtained for a cross-reactive response of these virus-specific T cells to fetal human leukocyte antigens. These results suggest that the virus-specific memory T cells accumulate in the placenta to protect the fetus from a harmful infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2016
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