To test the hypothesis that CD95-L (Fas-L) present on trophoblastic cells plays a part in
establishing foeto-placental tolerance by inducing apoptosis of immune defence cells, we
cocultured trophoblasts with lymphoid cells and scored the frequency of cell death in these
cultures. We prepared human trophoblastic cells from term placentas removed by C-section
and placed them in culture for 48 h before introducing the lymphoid cells. We added Jurkat
cells, a CD3+ lymphoid cell line, or purified T cells from human blood to the cultured …