Functional analysis of murine uterine natural killer cells genetically devoid of oestrogen receptors.
Uterine Natural Killer (uNK) cell differentiation in vivo requires oestrogen (E) priming prior to progesterone (P). Hybridomas between uNK precursor and SP2/0 cells express message for E receptor (ER)alpha but nor PR. However, mature, rodent and human uNK cells lack these receptors. To functionally assess requirements for uNK cell expression of ERalpha or ERbeta during precursor differentiation, marrow was transplanted from either ERalpha(o/o) (alphaERKO) or ERbeta(o/o) (betaERKO) mice into alymphoid RAG-2(o/o)/gammac(o/o) females. Recipients were mated and their implantation sites were examined by light microscopy, morphometry and ultrastructure. High numbers of uNK cells were established from each donor strain. Graft-derived uNK cells were similar in number and morphology to uNK cells of normal mice, suggesting that neither alpha- nor beta-ER is required for uNK precursor cell differentiation. Induction of spiral artery modification in the transplant recipients indicated that graft-derived uNK cells had functional properties. A novel technique for rapid isolation of highly purified uNK cells from normal mice using Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA) lectin-conjugated magnetic beads was employed to obtain RNA. Expression of alpha- and beta-ER was absent by RT-PCR from NK cells isolated from the uterus, supporting the conclusions from the in vivo study.
Borzychowski
A M
AM
Receptor Biology Section, Laboratory of Reproductive and Developmental Toxicology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institute of Health, P.O. Box 12233, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
Chantakru
S
S
Minhas
K
K
Paffaro
V A
VA
Yamada
A T
AT
He
H
H
Korach
K S
KS
Croy
B A
BA
D000818:Animals; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D002452:Cell Count; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003656:Decidua / Q000098:blood supply / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000502:physiology; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D005260:Female; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen