Expression of natural cytotoxicity receptors on peritoneal fluid natural killer cell and cytokine production by peritoneal fluid natural killer cell in women with endometriosis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between the expression of natural cytotoxicity receptors (NCRs) on peritoneal fluid (PF) natural killer (NK) (pfNK) cells and cytokine production by pfNK cells in women with endometriosis.


METHODS
Peritoneal fluid was collected from women with endometriosis undergoing laparoscopic surgery (n = 21) and controls without endometriosis (n = 28). The expression of NK cell surface antigens such as CD16 and NCRs (NKp46, NKp44 and NKp30) on pfNK cells, and cytokines production by pfNK cells [tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10, GM-CSF and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1] were measured using multicolor flow cytometry.


RESULTS
The percentages of CD56(+)/NKp46(+) cells and CD56(dim) /NKp46(+) cells in severe endometriosis group were significantly lower than that in controls. TNF-α and IFN-γ production by pfNK cells in severe endometriosis group was significantly higher than those in controls.


CONCLUSIONS
The differential expression of NKp46, TNF-α, and IFN-γ on pfNK cells in women with severe endometriosis may allow the proliferation and angiogenesis of endometriotic cells.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan.
Ayano
A
Funamizu
Atsushi
A
Fukui
Mai
M
Kamoi
Kohei
K
Fuchinoue
Megumi
M
Yokota
Rie
R
Fukuhara
Hideki
H
Mizunuma
D000328:Adult; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000276:immunology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D010535:Laparoscopy; D055627:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D055636:Receptors, Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D000954:Antigens, Surface; D016207:Cytokines; C112260:NCR1 protein, human; D055627:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 1; D055636:Receptors, Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma
Cytokine; NKp46; endometriosis; natural killer cell; peritoneal fluid