Decidual immune cell infiltrate in hydatidiform mole

Abstract EN

Background : hydrated form mole is a gestational trophoblastic disease characterized by proliferation of the pregnancy-associated trophoblastic tissue.

Complete hydrated form mole is an entirely paternally derived lesion and therefore, represents complete intrauterine allografts that can induce an altered maternal immune response.

Hypothesis: Here, we hypothesize that "the development of hydrated form moles is associated with numeric alterations of the decidua immune cell infiltrate".

Materials and methods: A total of 30 specimens (decidua tissue), entailing normal first trimester pregnancy terminations and complete hydrated form moles (15 cases, each) were evaluated for immune cell infiltrate using immunohistological methods and monoclonal antibodies (CD20, CD68, and CD3 for B cells, histiocytes / dendritic cells, and T cells, respectively).

Results: Groups of immune cells were seen in the decidua tissue of first trimester normal pregnancy terminations and hydrated form moles.

Compared to the decidua tissue of first trimester normal pregnancy terminations; the mean counts of the immune cells were statistically significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the decidua tissue of the hydrated form moles (0.33 ± 0.21 vs.

1.66 ± 0.21 for CD20+B cells; 9.80 ±1.57 vs.

13.14 ± 1.16 for CD68+ cells; and 12.92±3.46 vs.

23.85 ± 1.22 for CD3+ cells for decidua tissue without and with molar changes, respectively).

Conclusions: hydrated form moles are associated with numeric alterations of immune cell infiltrate.

The numeric dominance of immune cells in the hydrated form moles may reflect either non-specific or specific immunological Processes.

The possible pathogen etic and prognostic ramifications of our findings are open for further investigations.