title: Expression profiles of peripheral CD160+ lymphocytes during the course of healthy human pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  CD160 receptor is expressed by natural killer (NK) and T-cell subsets, and after activation, it could enhance cytotoxicity or pro-inflammatory cytokine production on NK cells. Here, we investigated the phenotype of peripheral CD160+ cells during healthy pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed the expression of CD69 activation marker, gamma/delta TCR, and NKG2A or NKG2D NK cell receptors on CD160+ lymphocytes of non-pregnant and healthy pregnant women at four different stages of pregnancy by flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In our hands, CD160 receptor-positive lymphocytes were present during pregnancy; however, they had different characteristics depending on gestational age. During implantation, CD160+ cells showed low activation rate, decreased NK receptor expression while 40% of Vδ2 + T cells expressed CD160 receptor. In turn, all the above parameters increased as pregnancy proceeds.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that CD160+ lymphocytes could be able to play a role in the maintenance of healthy pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School, University of Pecs, Szigeti ut 12, Pecs, Hungary. aliz.barakonyi@aok.pte.hu
authors.forename: Aliz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barakonyi
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Weisdorn
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Miko
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Varga
authors.forename: Jozsef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bodis
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Szekeres-Bartho
authors.forename: Laszlo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Szereday
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000378:metabolism*; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; C114505:CD160 protein, human; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic