title: Suppression of natural killer cell cytotoxicity in postpartum women: time course and potential mechanisms.
abstract: Little is known about the recovery of the immune system from normal pregnancy and whether the postpartum period is a uniquely adapted immune state. This report extends previous observations from our group of decreased natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity in the postpartum period. NK cytotoxicity was measured from 1 week through 9 months postpartum. In addition, NK cytotoxicity was assayed in the presence or absence of pooled plasmas collected from either postpartum or nonpostpartum women. Samples of cells were stained for inhibitory receptors and analyzed by flow cytometry. NK cytotoxicity remained decreased in postpartum women compared to controls through the first 6 postpartum months, returned to normal levels by 9 months, and remained normal at 12 months. NK cytotoxicity during the first 6 months was further inhibited by the addition of pooled plasma to NK cultures from postpartum women, but the addition of pooled plasma from the control group did not affect that group's NK cultures. There were differences in inhibitory receptor staining between the two groups, with decreased CD158a and CD158b and increased NKG2A expression on postpartum NK cells during the first 3 postpartum months. These data suggest that NK cytotoxicity postpartum inhibition lasts 6 months and is influenced by unidentified postpartum plasma components. The effect may also involve receptors on NK cells.
authors: College of Nursing, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA mgroer@health.usf.edu.
authors: Maureen W
authors: MW
authors: Groer
authors: College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
authors: Nagwa
authors: N
authors: El-Badri
authors: Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USA.
authors: Julie
authors: J
authors: Djeu
authors: College of Nursing, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
authors: S Nicole
authors: SN
authors: Williams
authors: College of Nursing, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
authors: Bradley
authors: B
authors: Kane
authors: College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
authors: Karoly
authors: K
authors: Szekeres
mesh_terms: D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D055654:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C / Q000097:blood; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D054342:Receptors, KIR2DL1 / Q000097:blood; D054344:Receptors, KIR2DL3 / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; C527054:KLRC1 protein, human; D055654:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C; D054342:Receptors, KIR2DL1; D054344:Receptors, KIR2DL3
keywords: NK cytotoxicity; flow cytometry; human leukocyte antigen-G; plasma effects; postpartum inhibition
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