Endometriosis and unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion: pathological states resulting from aberrant modulation of natural killer cell function?
The observation that natural killer (NK) cell activity is abnormally low in endometriosis patients and abnormally high in women with otherwise unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion represents, at present, an intriguing curiosity. There is evidence suggesting that these conditions are associated with an opposite regulation of NK cell behaviour. This review discusses these observations and potential relationships.
Somigliana
E
E
II Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Milano, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Italy.
Viganò
P
P
Vignali
M
M
D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000276:immunology*; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D059951:HLA-G Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000276:immunology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014599:Uterus / Q000276:immunology
D006680:HLA Antigens; D059951:HLA-G Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I