Decidual natural killer cell tuning by autologous dendritic cells.
OBJECTIVE
Dendritic cells (DC)/natural killer (NK) cells interactions in the deciduas of early human pregnancies were analyzed in vitro.


METHODS
Phenotype, cytokine expression and/or cytolytic mediators' expression were measured by flow cytometry in NK and DC from the freshly isolated decidual mononuclear cells or after their purification and co-culture in vitro. Proliferation of 5(6)-Carboxyfluorescein diacetate N-succinimidyl ester (CFSE)-labeled CD56(+) cells was analyzed by flow cytometry after the co-culture with CD1a(+) or CD83(+) DC.


RESULTS
Decidual CD1a(+) cells show less mature phenotype with no expression of CD197, lower expression of CD80 and CD86 and higher expression of CD206 and CD195 in comparison to CD83(+) cells. Interleukin (IL)-15, interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha productions were higher in immature than mature DC, whereas IL-10 and IL-18 were equally produced in both subpopulations. Immature DC increase perforin, FasL and TRAIL protein expression and proliferation of NK cells, but decrease their intracellular IL-15 production. Mature DC caused less efficient proliferation of NK cells, and did not affect cytokine and cytolytic mediator expression.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that decidual CD1a(+) cells regulate and shape NK cell function more profoundly than CD83(+) cells in decidua.
Laskarin
Gordana
G
Department of Physiology and Immunology, Medical Faculty, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia. gordana.laskarin@medri.hr
Redzović
Arnela
A
Rubesa
Zeljka
Z
Mantovani
Alberto
A
Allavena
Paola
P
Haller
Herman
H
Vlastelić
Ivan
I
Rukavina
Daniel
D
D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D018949:Antigens, CD1 / Q000032:analysis; D019002:CD56 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000276:immunology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D003656:Decidua / Q000276:immunology*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D016130:Immunophenotyping / Q000379:methods; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis; D010641:Phenotype; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D000097802:CD83 Antigen
D015703:Antigens, CD; D018949:Antigens, CD1; D019002:CD56 Antigen; D016207:Cytokines; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D000097802:CD83 Antigen; C419393:CD1a antigen