Phenotype of NK cells and cytotoxic/apoptotic mediators expression in ectopic pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
The expression of cytotoxic/apoptotic mediators and the phenotype characteristics of uterine NK cells (uNK) in tubal ectopic pregnancy (EP) were investigated.


METHODS
Samples of uterine decidua and tubal mucosa as well as peripheral blood (PB) of the same women with EP were used for phenotype characterization of NK cells and detection of cytotoxic/apoptotic mediators and IL-15.


RESULTS
In tubal mucosa, perforin, FasL, granulysin and IL-15 were almost completely absent, but they were present in normal and EP uterine deciduas. TRAIL was present on trophoblast and tubal mucosa, contrary to its lack in normal and EP uterine decidua. CD16⁻ CD56(dim) NK cells, mostly CD94⁻ and NKG2A⁻, predominate in tubal mucosa, whereas CD16⁻ CD56(bright) NK cells, predominantly CD94(+) and NKG2A(+) prevail in EP uterine decidua. NK cells at the EP implantation site express lower percentages of perforin and granulysin, but they express a higher percentage of TRAIL than do EP uterine decidual and PB NK cells. Lower percentage of TNF-α-expressing and IL-4-expressing NK cells were found at the implantation site compared to EP uterine decidua.


CONCLUSIONS
Authentic uNK cell population seems to be insufficient to restrict trophoblast invasion because of low expression of cytotoxic/apoptotic mediators.
Laskarin
Gordana
G
Department of Physiology and Immunology, University of Rijeka, Croatia.
Redzovic
Arnela
A
Vukelic
Petar
P
Veljkovic
Danijela
D
Gulic
Tamara
T
Haller
Herman
H
Rukavina
Daniel
D
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000276:immunology; D003656:Decidua / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D019409:Interleukin-15 / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D054353:Perforin / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011274:Pregnancy, Tubal / Q000276:immunology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; C075005:GNLY protein, human; D019409:Interleukin-15; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; C505653:TNFSF10 protein, human; D054353:Perforin