Tumor associated glycoprotein -72 modulates phenotype and functional activity of decidual macrophages

The mannose receptor (CD206) is involved in initiation and orientation of the immune response and distributed mostly on early pregnancy decidual macrophages surrounding glands. The effects of glandular mucin Tumor Associated Glycoprotein-72 (TAG-72) on decidual macrophages was evaluated. Binding and internalization of TAG-72 were measured by labelling of CD206 with PAM-1 monoclonal antibody or by FITC-Dextran uptake, respectively, in untreated or TAG-72 treated macrophages. The expression of maturation markers and cytokines were analyzed by flow cytometry, as well as the IL-4 protein expression in cord blood T cells after co-culture with purified decidual CD14+ cells untreated or treated with TAG-72. TAG-72 can be bound and internalized by the carbohydrate recognition domain of CD206. It up-regulates CD86 expression, IL-4 and IL-10 cytokine production in decidual macrophages and their capability to support IL-4 production in cord blood T cells. TAG-72 is the natural ligand for the carbohydrate recognition domain of CD206 on early decidual macrophages involved in supporting distinct profile of cytokine secretion, leading to pregnancy success. The investigation was supported by grants of Croatian Ministry of Science No. 0062029 and EMBIC project No. 512040, LSHM-CT-2004-512040.