Fig. 3.

Flow cytometric analysis of endometrial biopsies represents a powerful approach for identification of upper genital tract leukocytes (representative contour plots shown). After defining the CD45⁺ cell population (not shown), a large percentage was identified as (A) CD11b⁺, and (B, C) further identified as macrophages (CD11^int/hiCD14⁺CD68⁺) (B, D) neutrophils (CD11b^hiCD14^-CD15⁺), and (B) another myeloid cell subpopulation (CD11b^loCD14⁻CD11⁻). (E) To characterize T cell populations, CD11b⁻ cells were interrogated for CD3 expression. Both CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ cell populations were clearly defined (F), allowing exploration of their functional activation status, as indicated by the levels of CD69 (G) and granzyme B (H) expression. For plasma cell identification, CD3 and CD11b⁻ cells were interrogated for CD19 (J) and CD138 (K) expression. All CD138⁺ cells were CD27⁺ while a significant portion were CD38⁺ (L), strong evidence for the proper identification of a plasma cell population.