Js. Hunt et al., FAS LIGAND IS POSITIONED IN MOUSE UTERUS AND PLACENTA TO PREVENT TRAFFICKING OF ACTIVATED LEUKOCYTES BETWEEN THE MOTHER AND THE CONCEPTUS, The Journal of immunology, 158(9), 1997, pp. 4122-4128
Despite intimate juxtaposition of maternal and fetal tissues during ma
mmalian pregnancy, reciprocal migration of cells is limited. To evalua
te the postulate that cell traffic is restricted by expression of Fas
ligand (FasL) in the uterus and placenta, FasL mRNA was identified by
using reverse transcription-PCR, and FasL protein was identified by We
stern blotting and immunohistology. FasL mRNA and protein were detecte
d at all stages tested (gestation days (g.d.) 6-18). At g.d. 6 to 10,
immunoreactive FasL was prominent in glandular epithelial cells and de
cidual cells. Between g.d. 12 and 14, expression shifted to placental
trophoblast cells bordering maternal blood spaces and fetal placental
endothelial cells. Thus, FasL is appropriately positioned, first in th
e uterus and then in the placenta, to deter trafficking of activated F
as(+) immune cells between the mother and the fetus. To test whether t
he absence of functional FasL affects pregnancy, uteroplacental units
from homozygous matings of gld mice, a mutant strain lacking functiona
l FasL, were examined. Extensive leukocytic infiltrates and necrosis a
t the decidual-placental interface were observed from day 10 onward, r
esorption sites were common, and small litters were delivered by gld m
ice. These observations are consistent with the idea that FasL at the
maternal-fetal interface protects the placenta against a maternal leuk
ocytic influx that reduces fertility.