Abstract
PROBLEM: The prevalence of regulatory T cells and NK cells expressing activation and HLA-G receptors, and the influence of in vivo sHLA-G and mHLAG on HLA-G receptors expressed by NK cells in the uterine compartment is unclear.
METHOD OF STUDY: KIR2DL4 and/or ILT2 expression on regulatory T cells and NK cells from the placental bed and peripheral blood in first trimester was assessed using flow cytometry. Expression of mHLA-G on trophoblast cells and sHLA-G in 'uterine' and peripheral blood was determined with ELISA and flow cytometry, and specific associations with expression levels of cognate receptors or activation markers on immune cells were determined.
RESULTS: In the placental bed, CD45RA surface expression on Tregs was similar to peripheral Tregs in pregnant women, but T cells with lower CD4 and CD8 expression were accumulated. HLA-G receptor expression was increased on NK cells from 'uterine blood'. Soluble HLA-G was significantly increased in 'uterine blood' compared with peripheral blood, but no correlation was found between sHLA-G and mHLA-G in the uterine compartment. A correlation was found between sHLA-G and the fraction of KIR2DL4-positive NK cells in the uterine compartment, and a tendency was observed between mHLA-G and the fraction of ILT2-positive NK cells in the uterine compartment.
CONCLUSION: The NK subset in the placental bed displays a unique phenotype that may be influenced by mHLA-G on trophoblast cells and locally accumulated sHLA-G in the uterus.
| Originalsprog | Engelsk |
|---|---|
| Tidsskrift | American Journal of Reproductive Immunology |
| Vol/bind | 74 |
| Udgave nummer | 5 |
| Sider (fra-til) | 427-44 |
| Antal sider | 18 |
| ISSN | 1046-7408 |
| DOI | |
| Status | Udgivet - nov. 2015 |