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Identification of ITGA4/ITGB7 and ITGAE/ITGB7 Expressing Subsets of Decidual Dendritic-Like Cells Within Distinct Microdomains of the Pregnant Mouse Uterus¹

Institut für Systemische Entzündungsforschung, University of Lübeck, 23538 Lübeck, Germany

ABSTRACT

Several leukocyte populations have been described within the pregnant mouse uterus, some of which express the integrin beta 7 (ITGB7). Here we demonstrate that the majority of the ITGB7⁺ decidual leukocytes belong to the dendritic cell (DC) lineage. By multiparameter flow cytometric analysis we demonstrated the existence of three distinct DC subsets, characterized by differential expression of ITGA4/ITGB7 (formerly alpha4beta7-integrin) and ITGAE/ITGB7 (formerly alphaEbeta7-integrin). Importantly, the predominant DC subsets reside in distinct microdomains of the Day 9 pregnant mouse uterus. ITGAX⁺ ITGAM^med ITGA4/ITGB7⁺ ITGAE^– (formerly CD11c⁺ CD11b^med alpha4beta7⁺ alphaE^–) cells represent the majority of DCs in the vascular zone (VZ), whereas ITGAX⁺ ITGAM^– ITGAE/ITGB7⁺ (formerly CD11c⁺ CD11b^– alphaEbeta7⁺) DCs are mainly located in the lower central decidua basalis (cDB) and the underlying myometrium. A population of ITGAX⁺ ITGAM^low DCs lacking ITGB7 are restricted to the cDB. Confocal microscopy studies show direct contact of VZ DCs with uterine natural killer (uNK) cells, suggesting a functional relationship between both cell populations. Collectively, our data identify three phenotypically distinct DC subsets residing in distinct microdomains of the uterus. The differential expression of ITGA4/ITGB7 and ITGAE/ITGB7 suggests distinct functional roles of the different DC subsets during early pregnancy.

decidua, dendritic cells, integrins, mouse, pregnancy, reproductive immunology, uterine NK cells

¹Supported in part by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft grants GRK288C5 and Kr 1515/3-1.

Correspondence: ²Andrea Kruse, Institut für Systemische Entzündungsforschung, Universität zu Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Lübeck, Germany. FAX: 49 451 5003069; e-mail: kruse{at}immu.mu-luebeck.de