title: Proliferation of uterine natural killer cells is induced by human chorionic gonadotropin and mediated via the mannose receptor.
abstract: The endometrial lining of the human uterus contains a population of phenotypically distinct (CD56(bright), CD16(dim)), tissue-specific, natural killer [uterine natural killer (uNK)] cells that play a key role in the establishment of a successful pregnancy. An increase in the number of endometrial uNK cells occurs when the conceptus implants, and there is a further increase during the early stages of placentation. Here, we describe studies that have identified human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), a glycoprotein synthesized by the preimplantation conceptus, as a novel regulator of uNK cell proliferation. The impact of hCG on uNK cells was mediated via the mannose receptor (CD206) rather than by the classical hCG/LH receptor that was not expressed. The mannose receptor and hCG were colocalized on the surface of uNK cells, and proliferation did not occur if cells were incubated with deglycosylated hCG or intact hCG in the presence of excess d-Mannose. These novel observations provide new insight into the endocrine-immune dialogue that exists between the conceptus and immune cells within the receptive endometrium, and have implications for the role of uNK cell-trophoblast interactions and pregnancy outcome.
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council Human Reproductive Sciences Unit, Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kane
authors.forename: Rodney
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Philippa T K
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Saunders
authors.forename: Hilary O D
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Critchley
mesh_terms: D049109:Cell Proliferation; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D003656:Decidua / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D037181:Lectins, C-Type / Q000378:metabolism*; D008358:Mannose / Q000494:pharmacology; D000090323:Mannose Receptor; D037241:Mannose-Binding Lectins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism*; D011974:Receptors, LH / Q000378:metabolism; D014599:Uterus / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D000090323:Mannose Receptor; D037241:Mannose-Binding Lectins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D011974:Receptors, LH; D008358:Mannose