Phagocytosis as a potential mechanism for microbial defense of mouse placental trophoblast cells

Trophoblast giant cells are active phagocytes during implantation and post-implantation. Phagocytosis decreases during placental maturation as the phagocytic function of nutrition is gradually replaced by the direct uptake of nutrients by the labyrinth zone trophoblast. We hypothesize that, after placental maturation, trophoblast cells maintain phagocytic functions for purposes other than nutrition. This study employs histological techniques to examine the ability of trophoblast cells to phagocytose microorganisms (yeast or bacteria)--in vivo in females receiving thioglycolate to activate macrophages and in vitro in the presence of phagocytic promoters such as interferon-gamma and complement component C3. Placental trophoblast cells from the second half of gestation show basal phagocytosis that can be dramatically up-regulated by these promoters when microorganisms are inoculated into pregnant animals or introduced into culture systems. Stimulated trophoblast cells phagocytosed organisms more rapidly and in greater numbers than non-stimulated trophoblast exposed to the same numbers of organisms. Taken together, our results indicate that trophoblast cells do not lose their ability to phagocytose during the placentation process, which may imply that trophoblast cells participate in embryonic and fetal innate immune defense through elimination of microorganisms present at the maternal-fetal interface.