Natural killer (NK) cell activity of first trimester human decidua.
The NK cell functional capacity of first trimester human decidua against K562 targets was assessed in a 3-hr CRA. Collagenase dispersal combined with plastic adherence, nylon wool passage, and density gradient centrifugation yielded NKH-1 (Leu 19) positive enriched decidual large granular lymphocyte fraction (mean 75% positive). Decidual effectors displayed reduced lytic activity compared with autologous PB effectors at every effector:target ratio but this difference in cytotoxicity was abolished by short-term culture before the CRA. Decidual effectors treated with 50 units rIL-2 showed increased lytic activity compared to untreated decidual cells. By FACS analysis the majority of NKH-1 positive decidual effectors were CD3 and CD16 negative which corresponds with a minority PB NK population. The implications of a population of functional NK cells in early pregnancy decidua for the materno-fetal relationship is discussed.
Manaseki
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Division of Immunology, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
Searle
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D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000032:analysis; D002469:Cell Separation; D002860:Chromium Radioisotopes; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D003656:Decidua / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D002860:Chromium Radioisotopes; D007376:Interleukin-2