title: Uterine natural killer cells in perforin and beta(2)-microglobulin deficient mice.
abstract: Uterine natural killer (uNK) cells have roles for immune responses at the feto-maternal interface in mice. We studied the effects of beta(2)-microglobulin (beta(2)m) and perforin on proliferation and differentiation of uNK cells in pregnancy, using beta(2)-microglobulin-deficient (beta(2)m(-/-)) mice and perforin-deficient (P(-/-)) mice. The cell population of uNK cells in the metrial gland of P(-/-) mice was tended to be higher than the control B6 mice. The cell population of uNK cells in the metrial gland of beta(2)m(-/-) mice was significantly increased at Day 12 of pregnancy comparing to B6 and P(-/-) mice. On the other hand, the cell population of uNK cells in the decidua basalis of beta(2)m(-/-) mice was tended to be lower than B6 and P(-/-) mice. These results indicate that beta(2)m may be involved in proliferation of uNK cells in the metrial gland, and that beta(2)m may affect the maturation of uNK cells in the decidua basalis.
authors.affiliation: The United Graduate School of Veterinary, Yamaguchi University, Yoshida, Yamaguchi, Japan.
authors.forename: Thanmaporn
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Phichitrasilp
authors.forename: Eiichi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hondo
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kusakabe
authors.forename: Yumiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.forename: Kaori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ihara
authors.forename: Shoichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wakitani
authors.forename: Yasuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kiso
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D003603:Cytotoxins / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex; D008791:Metrial Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D054353:Perforin / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014599:Uterus / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D003603:Cytotoxins; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D054353:Perforin