HLA-G expressing DC-10 and CD4(+) T cells accumulate in human decidua during pregnancy

Multiple mechanisms underlie the surprising willingness of mothers to tolerate the semi-allogeneic fetal tissues during pregnancy. Chief among these is the expression of the HLA-G molecules that has been largely demonstrated to be responsible for reprogramming the local maternal immune response towards tolerance. We recently identified a subset of tolerogenic dendritic cells, DC-10 that secrete high amounts of IL-10 and express high levels of HLA-G and its ligand ILT4. DC-10 are present in the peripheral blood and are essential in inducing adaptive regulatory T cells. We investigated the presence of DC-10 and HLA-G-expressing CD4(+) T cells in human decidua in the first trimester of pregnancy. Results showed that these cells are highly represented in human decidua as compared to the peripheral blood. This is the first report describing decidual DC-10 and CD4(+)HLA-G(+) T cells, strongly suggesting that they may accumulate or be induced at the fetal maternal interface to promote tolerance.