Women with pre-eclampsia have an altered NKG2A and NKG2C receptor expression on peripheral blood natural killer cells.
OBJECTIVE
Preeclampsia, a pregnancy disorder, is associated with exaggerated inflammation and increased serum monokines. Uterine natural killer (NK) cells are implicated in preeclampsia pathology, but little is known regarding peripheral NK cells in the disease.


METHODS
We examined blood NK cells at delivery in women with preeclampsia, in healthy pregnant women and in healthy non-pregnant blood donors as a reference.


RESULTS
Although the percentages of both NKG2A- and NKG2C-positive NK cells were normal in preeclamptic women, the levels of NKG2A and NKG2C on NK cells were significantly up-regulated in these women. In vitro stimulation of PBMCs from healthy pregnant women and blood donors with monokines resulted in increased percentage of NKG2A(+) NK cells and increased NKG2A levels, while levels of NKG2C were decreased.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that the peripheral NK-cell pool is skewed in preeclampsia and possibly under the influence of monokines like interleukin (IL)-15 and IL-12.
Bachmayer
Nora
N
Department of Immunology, Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
Sohlberg
Ebba
E
Sundström
Yvonne
Y
Hamad
Rangeen Rafik
RR
Berg
Louise
L
Bremme
Katarina
K
Sverremark-Ekström
Eva
E
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000097:blood; D059951:HLA-G Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D007378:Interleukins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000378:metabolism*; D055654:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C / Q000378:metabolism*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy
D006680:HLA Antigens; D059951:HLA-G Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D007378:Interleukins; C527054:KLRC1 protein, human; C527059:KLRC2 protein, human; D055654:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C; D007371:Interferon-gamma