LOCALIZATION OF TUMOR-NECROSIS-FACTOR PRODUCTION IN CELLS AT THE MATERNOFETAL INTERFACE IN HUMAN-PREGNANCY

Biologically active tumour necrosis factor (TNF) was detected in mediu m conditioned by incubation with explants of human pregnancy decidua o r fetal chorionic villous tissue, taken in the first trimester and at term. Addition of endotoxin increased TNF release in most cases. ELISA assays gave similar results for TNF-alpha and also demonstrated low l evels of TNF-beta. Using cell populations purified by flow cytometry, secretion of biologically active TNF was shown to be localized to the macrophages. Cytotrophoblast purified from term amniochorion produced no TNF. Both decidual and chorionic villous tissue at term contained m RNA for TNF-alpha and TNF-beta. TNF-alpha mRNA was confined to decidua l macrophages in first trimester tissue, and was not present in chorio nic cytotrophoblast. TNF-beta mRNA, in contrast, was detected in both macrophage and non-macrophage populations in term decidua.