Functions of uterine natural killer cells are mediated by interferon gamma production during murine pregnancy.
The dominant lymphocytes in healthy human and murine implantation sites are pregnancy-associated uterine natural killer (uNK) cells. These cells produce 90% of pregnancy-induced, uterine interferon (IFN)- gamma, a cytokine that regulates expression of more than 0.5% of the mouse genome. Implantation sites in uNK cell-deficient and IFN- gamma -signal-disrupted mice display anomalies in decidua and its spiral arteries. Reconstitution of uNK cell-deficient females with bone marrow containing normal NK cell progenitors, establishes uNK cells and reverses the anomalies. Grafts from IFN- gamma(-/-)mice are restored uNK cells, but the uNK cells did not reverse the phenotypes. This review focuses on the functions of uNK cell-derived IFN- gamma and the genes that it may regulate in the pregnant uterus.
Ashkar
A A
AA
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada. aashkar@uoguelph.ca
Croy
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BA
D000818:Animals; D003656:Decidua / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008954:Models, Biological; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000276:immunology*; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply / Q000276:immunology*
D007371:Interferon-gamma