The role of decidual NK cells in pregnancies with impaired vascular remodelling.
The pathologies of the dangerous pregnancy complications pre-eclampsia (PE) and fetal growth restriction (FGR) are established in the first trimester of human pregnancy yet we know little of how this happens. Finely tuned interactions between maternal and placental cells are essential for pregnancy to progress without complications; however, the precise nature of this cross-talk and how it can go wrong are crucial questions that remain to be answered. This review summarises recent studies examining the role played by natural killer cells in regulating normal placentation and remodelling. Their involvement when it is impaired in PE/FGR pregnancies will additionally be discussed.
Reproductive and Cardiovascular Disease Research Group, Cardiovascular and Cell Sciences Institute, St. George's, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 0RE, UK. Electronic address: jcartwri@sgul.ac.uk.
Judith E
JE
Cartwright
Reproductive and Cardiovascular Disease Research Group, Cardiovascular and Cell Sciences Institute, St. George's, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 0RE, UK.
Laura
L
James-Allan
Reproductive and Cardiovascular Disease Research Group, Cardiovascular and Cell Sciences Institute, St. George's, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 0RE, UK.
Rebecca J
RJ
Buckley
Reproductive and Cardiovascular Disease Research Group, Cardiovascular and Cell Sciences Institute, St. George's, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 0RE, UK.
Alison E
AE
Wallace
D003656:Decidua / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D010929:Placentation; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000276:immunology*; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000276:immunology*; D066253:Vascular Remodeling
Decidua; Natural killer cell; Pre-eclamspia; Pregnancy; Spiral artery; Trophoblast