Decreased expression of MMP-9 in CD8⁺ cells in placenta with severe preeclampsia

Abstract

We compared the number of CD4-positive (CD4⁺) and CD8-positive (CD8⁺) cells in severe and non-severe preeclampsia (PE), and in normal pregnancy. We also evaluated the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) in CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ cells. Immunohistochemistry for CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ was performed on the decidua basalis of 15 severe and 13 non-severe PE women and compared to decidual tissue of 19 normal pregnancies (control group). Co-expression of MMP-9 with CD8⁺ and CD4⁺ cells was determined by double immunofluorescence staining. The median number of CD8⁺ cells/mm² was significantly lower for the severe PE group than for the normal pregnancy group, as was the number of CD4⁺ cells and MMP-9⁺CD8⁺ cells. No statistical difference was found between the non-severe PE group and the normal pregnancy group. The significant decrease of CD4⁺, CD8⁺ and MMP-9⁺CD8⁺ cells at the fetal-maternal interface only in the severe PE group suggests that immunological disorders play a role in the pathophysiology of severe PE.

Key words:

• CD4
• CD8
• decidua basalis
• immunohistochemistry
• MMP-9
• placenta
• preeclampsia

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Ken Palmer for his kind assistance with language editing. This work was supported by the project grant (number 05-39-3491/14) by Federal Ministry of Education and Science, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Faculty of Health Studies, University of Mostar.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this paper.