title: Differentiation of uterine natural killer cells in pregnant SCID (scid/scid) mice.
abstract: To determine whether functional T- and B-cells can affect differentiation and/or proliferation of uterine natural killer (uNK) cells, their numbers in SCID mice (genotype, C.B.-17/Icr-scid/scid) were compared with those of control mice (genotype, C.B.-17/Icr-+/+) on days 8, 12 and 16 of pregnancy. Using biotinylated-Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA) lectin staining, uNK cells can be readily classified into 4 subtypes, I to IV, from immature to mature types. The number of uNK cells was significantly lower in the decidua basalis of SCID mice than in that of control mice on day 8 of pregnancy. Particularly, the number of uNK cells of immature subtype II was significantly lower in SCID mice than in the control mice. By day 12, however, the uNK cell number in the SCID mice reached the same level as that of the control mice. It is likely that uNK cell differentiation in SCID mice was delayed during the early placentation period due to a lack of functional T and B cells.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Basic Veterinary Science, The United Graduate School of Veterinary Science, Yoshida, Yamaguchi, Japan.
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hiyama
authors.forename: Ken Takeshi
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Kusakabe
authors.forename: Ai
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kuwahara
authors.forename: Shoichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wakitani
authors.forename: Hamayun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Yasuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kiso
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000378:metabolism*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice / Q000276:immunology*; D016513:Mice, SCID; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014599:Uterus / Q000276:immunology*