Transient CD15-positive endothelial phenotype in the human placenta correlates with physiological and pathological fetoplacental immaturity

CD15 – A new marker of pathological villous immaturity of the term placenta

“…Pronounced CD15-expression was revealed in the macrovascular endothelium of the chorionic plate/stem villi arteries and microvascular segment in the distal villi. A similar placental CD15þ immunophenotype with strong CD15-expression in the macro-and microvascular endothelium of fetoplacental vessels was previously observed only in physiologically immature first trimester placentas [9].…”

“…Macrovascular endothelium in the arteries of chorionic plate and stem villi had a predominantly CD15-negative immunophenotype with low singlecell positivity. Such CD15-expression profile with strong CD15-expression in the microvascular endothelium and local absence of endothelial CD15-expression in the macrovascular segment was previously described in physiologically immature second trimester placentas [9].…”

“…Our previous study demonstrated the association of CD15þ placental endothelium with physiological villous immaturity in the first and second trimesters and the gradual stage-specific loss of CD15þ endothelium in the process of villous maturation [9]. These results became the basis for the present immunohistochemical evaluation of the degree of placental villous immaturity in pathological pregnancy.…”

“…By contrast, a CD15-negative immunophenotype of chorionic plate and stem villi arteries showed no differences from normal mature placentas. Thus, placentas with GDM show moderate immunophenotypic immaturity that complies with the CD15-immunophenotype in physiologically immature placentas in the second trimester (Grade II, Table 3) [9].…”

“…Fetoplacental maturation at the end of pregnancy correlates with a disappearance of CD15þ endothelium in the placental vessels [9].…”