Antigen-presenting cells in the human female reproductive tract: Analysis of antigen presentation in pre- and post-menopausal women

PROBLEM: To determine whether cells in the Female reproductive tract (FRT) are functionally capable of presenting antigen to T cells. METHOD OF STUDY: Analysis was done by determining the proliferation of puri fied autologous T cells to antigen, following co-incubation with non-prolif erating cell suspensions isolated from the uterus and prepared by enzymatic digestion of reproductive tract tissues from hysterectomy patients with be nign disease. RESULTS: All uterine preparations analyzed were functionally capable of pre senting antigen; the ability to present antigen was independent of pre- and post-menopausal status. In contrast, some, but not all, tissues from the o vary, Fallopian tube, cervix, and vagina were capable of presenting antigen . CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the human FRT is an inductive site f or immune responses. Regulation of antigen presentation in the reproductive tract may be important for protection against sexually transmitted disease s.