Prostaglandin E2 in Soluble Factor-Mediated Immune Suppression by First Trimester Decidual Cells

Several studies have shown that decidual tissue produces soluble factors which can mediate a variety of immunosuppressive activities. In order to assess whether prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) was present in supernatants produced by explant culture of 10 human specimens of first trimester decidua. The effect of the supernatants from the two different series (with and without indomethacin treatment) of explant culture incubated for 24, 48 and 72 hours on the suppression of PHA-induced lymphoproliferation assay was investigated. The percentage of suppression was evaluated using Student`s t-test. The immunosuppressive activity of decidual explant supernatants was significantly reduced in the presence of indomethacin only in 24 hour culture period. The present study suggests the production of PGE2 by early pregnancy decidua does exist. Whether this molecule is critical for survival of the feto-placental unit requires more investigations, including comparison with nonpregnant endometrium in different cycle phases and investigation of pathological pregnancy.