Differences in the Expression of KIR, ILT Inhibitory Receptors, and VEGF Production in the Induced Decidual NK Cell Cultures of Fertile and RPL Women.

Monika Kniotek,Małgorzata Jerzak,Aleksander Roszczyk,Monika Szafarowska,Michał Zych,Shtaywy S Abdalla

doi:10.1155/2021/6673427

Abstract

Results KIR2DL1 and ILT-2 expression on idNK cells was higher in healthy women than in RPL patients. Sildenafil enhanced NKG2A expression in RPL patients. VEGF concentration was higher in fertile woman idNK cell cultures. idNK cells were more sensitive for necrosis in RPL than in fertile women. SC did not influence VEGF production or idNK cell apoptosis. Conclusions A combination of hypoxia, IL-15, and AZA promotes the conversion of pbNK into idNK cells CD56+CD16−-expressing KIR receptors and produces VEGF. Alterations in KIR2DL1 and ILT-2 expression as well as impaired VEGF production were associated with RPL. SC affects NKG2A expression on RPL idNK cells. SC had no effect on VEGF release or idNK cell apoptosis.

Highlights

Decidual Natural killer (NK) cells are a distinct population of NK cells, homing the decidua and becoming the most abundant and important population of immune-competent cells in the human uterus. Decidual NK (dNK) cells markedly increase in number after ovulation and reach the peak during the luteal phase
CD56+CD16+ NK cells lost the expression of CD16 molecule in both studied groups: CG induced decidual NK (idNK) cells 75:67% ± 7:3% and recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) idNK cells 73:48% ± 11:6% (Figure S4 in supplementary data)
Numerous authors suggested that the alterations of dNK cell subsets might be associated with recurrent pregnancy loss, implantation failures, and preeclampsia [12,13,14, 37]

Summary

Introduction

Decidual NK (dNK) cells are a distinct population of NK cells, homing the decidua and becoming the most abundant and important population of immune-competent cells in the human uterus. dNK cells markedly increase in number after ovulation and reach the peak during the luteal phase. DNK cells markedly increase in number after ovulation and reach the peak during the luteal phase. Decidual NK (dNK) cells are a distinct population of NK cells, homing the decidua and becoming the most abundant and important population of immune-competent cells in the human uterus. If fertilization occurs, they continue to proliferate in the decidua during the first trimester of pregnancy [1,2,3,4]. In the first 3 months of pregnancy, NK cells represent 50-70% of decidual leukocytes [5] and play a crucial role in angiogenesis and spiral artery formation by secreting the following: VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), angiotensin-1 (Ang-1), angiotensin-2 (Ang-2), and placental growth factor (PLGF) [1]. Impaired VEGF production was found in the serum of RPL and preeclampsia patients [7, 8]

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