The effect of interleukin 2 and transforming growth factor-beta 2 (TGF-beta 2) on the proliferation and natural killer activity of decidual CD16- CD56bright natural killer cells.
The present study, using flow cytometry, demonstrated that CD16- CD56bright natural killer (NK) cells, which are abundant in the decidua, have both interleukin-2 receptor alpha (IL-2R alpha) and interleukin-2 receptor beta (IL-2R beta). The NK activity and DNA synthesis of CD16- CD56bright NK cells were markedly elevated even by treatment with small amounts of IL-2. These results indicate that decidual CD16- CD56bright NK cells possess a high-affinity receptor for IL-2. Transforming growth factor-beta 2 (TGF-beta 2), which is contained in the decidua and is thought to serve as a major immunosuppressive factor, reduced the NK activity of decidual CD16- CD56bright NK cells, but it hardly affected the IL-2-induced augmentation of the NK activity or DNA synthesis of decidual CD16- CD56bright NK cells. The conclusion has therefore been reached that once IL-2 is produced in the decidua, the IL-2-induced potentiation of the NK activity of decidual CD16- CD56bright NK cells cannot be suppressed by TGF-beta 2.
Saito
S
S
Department of Obstertrics and Gynecology, Nara Medical University, Japan.
Morii
T
T
Enomoto
M
M
Sakakura
S
S
Nishikawa
K
K
Narita
N
N
Ichijo
M
M
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D019002:CD56 Antigen; D002455:Cell Division / Q000276:immunology; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003656:Decidua / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000502:physiology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D009000:Monocytes; D011247:Pregnancy; D017452:Receptors, IgG / Q000032:analysis; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000502:physiology*
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D019002:CD56 Antigen; D007376:Interleukin-2; D017452:Receptors, IgG; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D004247:DNA