title: TGFbeta promotes conversion of CD16+ peripheral blood NK cells into CD16- NK cells with similarities to decidual NK cells.
abstract: During pregnancy the uterine decidua is populated by large numbers of natural killer (NK) cells with a phenotype CD56(superbright)CD16(-)CD9(+)KIR(+) distinct from both subsets of peripheral blood NK cells. Culture of highly purified CD16(+)CD9(-) peripheral blood NK cells in medium containing TGFbeta1 resulted in a transition to CD16(-)CD9(+) NK cells resembling decidual NK cells. Decidual stromal cells, when isolated and cultured in vitro, were found to produce TGFbeta1. Incubation of peripheral blood NK cells with conditioned medium from decidual stromal cells mirrored the effects of TGFbeta1. Similar changes may occur upon NK cell entry into the decidua or other tissues expressing substantial TGFbeta. In addition, Lin(-)CD34(+)CD45(+) hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells could be isolated from decidual tissue. These progenitors also produced NK cells when cultured in conditioned medium from decidual stromal cells supplemented with IL-15 and stem cell factor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
authors.forename: Derin B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Keskin
authors.forename: David S J
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Allan
authors.forename: Basya
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rybalov
authors.forename: Milena M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Andzelm
authors.forename: Joel N H
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Stern
authors.forename: Hernan D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Kopcow
authors.forename: Louise A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Koopman
authors.forename: Jack L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Strominger
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology*; D003656:Decidua / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D019409:Interleukin-15; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D017452:Receptors, IgG / Q000276:immunology*; D019089:Stem Cell Factor; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019409:Interleukin-15; D017452:Receptors, IgG; D019089:Stem Cell Factor; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1