The role of invariant NKT cells in pre-eclampsia.
OBJECTIVE
Recent data suggest a dominant role of the innate, rather than the adaptive immune system in pregnancy-related immunoregulation. Invariant NKT (iNKT) cells represent a link between the innate and the acquired immune systems; however, little is known about how they function in pre-eclampsia. The aim of our study was to investigate the possible role of iNKT cells in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia.


METHODS
Human peripheral blood samples were obtained from pre-eclamptic, healthy pregnant- and non-pregnant women. Freshly separated peripheral blood mononuclear cells were immediately labeled with anti-perforin-, anti-CD69-, anti-CD95-, anti-NKG2A-, anti-NKG2D-, anti-IFN-gamma and anti iNKT antibodies and analyzed by flow cytometry.


RESULTS
Pre-eclamptic patients demonstrated increased CD69, perforin and IFN-gamma expression, which could be explained by dysregulation of NK cell receptor expression. These Th1 polarized cells were less susceptible to apoptosis than iNKT cells from healthy pregnant women.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that activated iNKT cells of pre-eclamptic women have an increased cytotoxic potential, which may be because of altered expression of NK cell inhibitory and activating receptors.
Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Pecs University Medical School, Szigeti ut. 12, Pecs, Hungary.
Eva
E
Miko
Laszlo
L
Szereday
Aliz
A
Barakonyi
Andrea
A
Jarkovich
Peter
P
Varga
Julia
J
Szekeres-Bartho
D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D055654:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C; D055655:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K; D054353:Perforin / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D055607:Receptors, Natural Killer Cell; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D000099192:CD69 Antigens
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D055654:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C; D055655:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K; D054353:Perforin; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D055607:Receptors, Natural Killer Cell; D019014:fas Receptor; D000099192:CD69 Antigens; C527054:KLRC1 protein, human; C527085:KLRK1 protein, human