Human uterine NK cells interact with uterine macrophages via NKG2D upon stimulation with PAMPs.
OBJECTIVE
The initiation of an immune response often involves the cooperation of various innate immune cells. In the human endometrium, uterine natural killer (uNK) cells and uterine macrophages are present in significant numbers and in close proximity, yet how they cooperatively respond to infectious challenge is poorly understood.


METHODS
Primary autologous uNK cells and macrophages were co-cultured to determine functional interactions after stimulation with pathogen-associated molecular patterns.


RESULTS
After stimulation by polyI:C, human uNK cells interact with autologous uterine macrophages and produce interferon-gamma in an NKG2D-dependent manner. Stimulated primary uterine macrophages up-regulated the expression of MHC Class I chain-related protein A (MICA), but expression of the cognate receptor NKG2D remained unchanged on uNK cells, even in the presence of cytokines.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates that the NKG2D-MICA interaction is an important molecular mechanism that is involved in the innate immune response to microbial signals in the human uterine endometrium.
Basu
Satarupa
S
Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Dartmouth Medical School, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA.
Eriksson
Mikael
M
Pioli
Patricia A
PA
Conejo-Garcia
Jose
J
Mselle
Teddy F
TF
Yamamoto
Satoshi
S
Wira
Charles R
CR
Sentman
Charles L
CL
D000328:Adult; D019002:CD56 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D055655:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K / Q000276:immunology*; D011070:Poly I-C / Q000494:pharmacology; D051196:Toll-Like Receptor 3 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
D019002:CD56 Antigen; C527085:KLRK1 protein, human; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D055655:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K; C495344:TLR3 protein, human; D051196:Toll-Like Receptor 3; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D011070:Poly I-C