title: Phenotype of NK cells and cytotoxic/apoptotic mediators expression in ectopic pregnancy.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Immunology, University of Rijeka, Croatia.
authors.forename: Gordana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Laskarin
authors.forename: Arnela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Redzovic
authors.forename: Petar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vukelic
authors.forename: Danijela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Veljkovic
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gulic
authors.forename: Herman
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Haller
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rukavina
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: 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