Surfactant protein D in the female genital tract

Abstract

Surfactant protein D (SP-D) plays a role in innate immunity against various pathogens and in vivo studies have demonstrated that SP-D also has anti-inflammatory properties. SP-D was originally demonstrated in alveolar type II cells, but recent studies have shown extrapulmonary expression of SP-D indicating a systemic role for the protein. This study describes the presence of SP-D in the female genital tract, the placenta and in amniotic fluid using immunohistochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. SP-D was observed in cells lining surface epithelium and secretory glands in the vagina, cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries. In the placenta, SP-D was seen in all villous and extravillous trophoblast subpopulations. Endometrial presence of SP-D in non-pregnant women varied according to stage of the menstrual cycle and was up-regulated towards the secretory phase. It is suggested that endometrial SP-D may prevent intrauterine infection at the time of implantation and during pregnancy. © European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology 2004; all rights reserved.