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Decidual stromal cells recruit Th17 cells into decidua to promote proliferation and invasion of human trophoblast cells by secreting IL-17

Cellular & Molecular Immunology volume 11, pages 253–262 (2014)Cite this article

Abstract

T helper 17 (Th17) cells have both regulatory and protective roles in physiological conditions. The Th17 subset and the cytokine interleukin-17A (IL-17A) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of certain autoimmune diseases, several types of cancer and allograft rejection. However, the role of Th17 cells at the maternal/fetal interface remains unknown. Here, we demonstrate that Th17 cells are present in decidua and are increased in the peripheral blood of 10 clinically normal pregnancies based on intracellular cytokine analysis. Our results suggest a potential role of Th17 cells in sustaining pregnancy in humans. Furthermore, we demonstrate that decidual stromal cells (DSCs) but not trophoblast cells recruit peripheral Th17 cells into the decidua by secreting CCL2. The recruited Th17 cells promote proliferation and invasion and inhibit the apoptosis of human trophoblast cells by secreting IL-17 during the first trimester of pregnancy. These findings indicate a novel role for Th17 cells in controlling the maternal–fetal relationship and placenta development.

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Acknowledgements

This work is supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (2006CB944007), Major International Joint Research Project of NSFC 30910103909, National Natural Science Foundation of China 31270969, National and Shanghai Leading Academic Discipline Project (211XK22), Program for Outstanding Medical Academic Leader (all to DJL) and Research Fund for Doctoral Program from Education Ministry of China 200802461019 (to LPJ).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Hospital and Institute of Obstetrics & Gynecology, IBS, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, China

    Hai-Xia Wu, Li-Ping Jin, Bing Xu, Shan-Shan Liang & Da-Jin Li

  2. Department of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China

    Hai-Xia Wu

  3. Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Hainan Medical College Affiliated Hospital, Haikou, China

    Da-Jin Li

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Correspondence to Da-Jin Li.

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Supplementary Information accompanies the paper on Cellular & Molecular Immunology’s website. (http://www.nature.com/cmi).

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Wu, HX., Jin, LP., Xu, B. et al. Decidual stromal cells recruit Th17 cells into decidua to promote proliferation and invasion of human trophoblast cells by secreting IL-17. Cell Mol Immunol 11, 253–262 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/cmi.2013.67

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