title: Role of NKp46 expression in cytokine production by CD56-positive NK cells in the peripheral blood and the uterine endometrium.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the role of natural cytotoxicity receptor, NKp46 expression in cytokine-producing NK cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  CD56(+) /NKp46(+)  NK cells from the peripheral blood and the uterine endometrium were magnetically separated. IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-10, and TGF-β(1)  expressions on NK cells were investigated using multicolor flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Peripheral blood and uterine endometrial NK cells were grouped into 4 subpopulations based upon the degree of CD56 and NKp46 expressions. NKp46 expression was associated with higher frequency of cytokine-producing NK cells, including CD56(dim) NK cells. The percentage of TNF-α(+)  and IL-10(+)  NK cells per total CD56(+) /NKp46(+)  NK cells in the uterine endometrium showed a significant correlation with those of the peripheral blood in all subpopulations, but that of IFN-γ(+) , IL-4(+,)  and TGF-β(1)             (+)  NK cells showed partial correlation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Expression of NKp46 is involved in cytokine production of CD56(+)  NK cells in the peripheral blood and the uterine endometrium.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Aomori, Japan. megumi-y@cc.hirosaki-u.ac.jp
authors: Megumi
authors: M
authors: Yokota
authors: Atushi
authors: A
authors: Fukui
authors: Ayano
authors: A
authors: Funamizu
authors: Rika
authors: R
authors: Nakamura
authors: Mai
authors: M
authors: Kamoi
authors: Kohei
authors: K
authors: Fuchinoue
authors: Yukie
authors: Y
authors: Sasaki
authors: Rie
authors: R
authors: Fukuhara
authors: Hideki
authors: H
authors: Mizunuma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001775:Blood Circulation / Q000276:immunology; D019002:CD56 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D002469:Cell Separation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D055627:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 1 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D058408:Th1-Th2 Balance; D014599:Uterus / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D019002:CD56 Antigen; D016207:Cytokines; C112260:NCR1 protein, human; D055627:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 1