Effect of cytotrophoblast cells on T lymphocyte surface antigen expression in cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from pregnant woman and umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells from newborns.

We studied the action of cytotrophoblast cells (CTC) on the expression of T lymphocyte membrane markers in the cultures of newborn cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMC) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of a pregnant woman. The CTC were separated from the placental chorion at ten weeks of gestation time. In this abstract we show that the CTC and the CTC culture supernatant (SN) increase the number of HLA DR(+)CD7(+) T cells activated by anti-CD3 mAbs, both in PBMC and CBMC cultures.

The Cord Blood T cell Proliferation and Apoptosis: Influence of Interleukin-2, -4, -7 and Dexametasone.

We have shown that the severity of newborns' clinical condition is accompanied by two independent deviations in functional properties of T cells: week proliferative response to activation through CD3 molecule and high sensitivity to apoptosis. Studies of effects exerted by recombinant interleukins and dexamethasone upon cord blood mononuclear cell (CBMC) apoptosis proves that the IL-2, -4 and -7 deficiency is common to enhance apoptosis in CBMC cultures of newborn infants. However, interleukin deficiency is not the sole cause of high level of CBMC apoptosis, and some other factors are required, which may determine the cell sensitivity towards apoptosis.