CD83+ dendritic cells in the decidua of women with recurrent miscarriage and normal pregnancy

Immunological factors have been postulated to play a role in the aetiology of recurrent miscarriage as the fetus and placenta are semi-allogenic to the mother. Potent immunostimulatory (CD83(+)) dendritic cells have recently been identified in the uterine decidua. This study was conducted to examine whether decidual dendritic cells could play a role in the aetiology of recurrent miscarriage. First trimester placental and decidual biopsies were obtained from 40 women with recurrent miscarriage and 15 gestation-matched normal controls. These biopsies were screened by immunohistochemistry for CD83(+) cells. Staining was analysed by light microscopy and digital image analysis. In both recurrent miscarriage and normal pregnancy, CD83(+) dendritic cells were localized to the decidua. Individual dendritic cells were present in the decidual stroma or in clusters of 3-4 dendritic cells, in lymphoid aggregates. There were no significant differences in decidual CD83(+) dendritic cell density between women with recurrent miscarriage and normal pregnancy when the groups were compared as a whole. However, when segregated by gestational age, decidua from women with recurrent miscarriage at 8 weeks' gestation contained significantly more dendritic cells than gestational age-matched normal controls. This suggests dendritic cells may play a role in the aetiology of some cases of recurrent miscarriage. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.