Medizinische Universität Graz Austria/Österreich - Forschungsportal - Medical University of Graz
Gewählte Publikation:
Ibesich, S.
MODULATION OF THE PHENOTYPICAL POLARIZATION OF PLACENTAL HOFBAUER CELLS IN VITRO – a pilot study
Humanmedizin; [ Diplomarbeit ] Graz Medical University; 2018. pp. 71
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- Autor*innen der Med Uni Graz:
- Betreuer*innen:
- Schliefsteiner Carolin
- Wadsack Christian
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- Abstract:
- Introduction. Hofbauer cells (HBCs) are feto-placental macrophages residing in the stromal core of chorionic villi. They contribute to the fetal first line of defense against antigens, promotion of maternal immune-tolerance against the semi-allogeneic fetus, placental angiogenesis, vasoregulation and morphogenesis. They are also suspected to play a role in obstetric complications such as gestational diabetes mellitus, pre-eclampsia, villitis of unknown etiology and chorioamnionitis. Adapting to their environment, macrophages generally polarize to specific phenotypes, allowing them to fulfil a wide range of functions, e.g. as inflammatory (M1) or regulatory (M2) cells. In normal pregnancies, HBCs have generally been found to occupy a regulatory phenotype. However, it remains unclear in how far HBCs are able to undergo phenotypical switches. Methods. Terminally differentiated HBCs from human term placentae (N=5) were isolated. Cells were exposed to stimuli (LPS + IFN¿, IL-4 + IL-13, IL-10 + TGF¿, IL-6) that have previously been defined to polarize macrophages into depending phenotypes. Simultaneously, THP-1 cells, a human immortalized monocyte/macrophage cell line, were used as control. These cells were differentiated into macrophages and exposed to the same stimuli. FACS was used to quantify surface markers specific for the various polarizations on HBCs and THP-1 cells. ELISA approach was used to quantify respective secreted proteins. Results. In HBCs treated with pro-inflammatory stimuli (LPS + IFN¿), a decrease of M2 markers, but no increase of M1 markers was observed. In contrast, THP-1 cells treated with the same stimuli, a significant increase of M1 markers CD80 and CD86, respectively, as well as antigen-presenting surface marker HLA-DR was observed. In ELISA, HBCs in contrast to THP-1 cells displayed consistently an IL-10high /IL-12low phenotype, which is regarded as M2 marker. Conclusion. HBCs are more committed to a regulatory phenotype than the control cell lineage upon pro-inflammatory stimulation. Further research is needed to determine in how far an enhancement of M2 polarization could contribute to maintaining a healthy course of pregnancy and treatment of pregnancy-associated diseases.