Antigen-Presenting Cells in the Human Female Reproductive Tract: Analysis of Antigen Presentation in Pre- and Post-Menopausal Women

PROBLEM: To determine whether cells in the female reproductive tract (FRT) are functionally capable of presenting antigen to T cells. METHOD OF STUDY: Analysis was done by determining the proliferation of purified autologous T cells to antigen, following co‐incubation with non‐proliferating cell suspensions isolated from the uterus and prepared by enzymatic digestion of reproductive tract tissues from hysterectomy patients with benign disease. RESULTS: All uterine preparations analyzed were functionally capable of presenting antigen; the ability to present antigen was independent of pre‐ and post‐menopausal status. In contrast, some, but not all, tissues from the ovary, Fallopian tube, cervix, and vagina were capable of presenting antigen. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the human FRT is an inductive site for immune responses. Regulation of antigen presentation in the reproductive tract may be important for protection against sexually transmitted diseases.