Five different phenotypes of endothelial cell cultures from the bovine corpus luteum: present outcome and role of potential dendritic cells in luteolysis

Katharina Spanel-Borowski (1)

1 Leipzig University / Universität Leipzig

Progress in understanding the background of structural luteolysis depends on insights into the physiological function of innate immunity (INIM), in particular the presence of dendritic cells (DCs) in the corpus luteum (CL). For this reason, the cultures of five endothelial cell-like phenotypes derived from the bovine CL and their long-lasting analysis (morphology, function, and origin) become important. Types 1 and 2 represent microvascular endothelial cells with cytokeratin (CK) expression, assumed to be danger-sensing cells. Types 3 and 4 express features of common endothelial cells. Type 5 indicates a steroidogenic cell type, which could be derived from steroidogenic CK cells in the CL of development after loss of CK expression. Type 5 is a promising candidate to become a mature DC. It might act with the microvascular CK cell/type 1 like a luteovascular unit, which connects INIM with adaptive/cell-mediated immunity (ADIM) in structural luteolysis.

Mots clés: steroidogenic luteal cells; vascular luteal cells; endothelial cells; dendritic cells; corpus luteum; luteolysis; innate immunity; adaptive immunity

Domaines: Biochimie, Biologie Moléculaire

Katharina Spanel-Borowski. Five different phenotypes of endothelial cell cultures from the bovine corpus luteum: present outcome and role of potential dendritic cells in luteolysis. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, 2011, ⟨10.1016/j.mce.2011.02.021⟩. ⟨hal-00693833⟩