Effect of female sex steroids on human endometrial CD16 neg CD56 bright natural killer cells

Abstract

Objective To clarify whether female sex steroids directly affect the bioactivity of the human endometrial CD16 neg CD56 bright natural killer (NK) cells. Design In vitro study. Setting University obstetrics and gynecology department. Patient(s) Thirteen women with histologically normal endometrium who were undergoing hysterectomy and seven women during the first trimester of pregnancy who were undergoing selective termination. Intervention(s) Endometrium or decidua was obtained. Main outcome measure(s) The effects of 17β-estradiol or progesterone (10 −6, 10 −7, and 10 −8 M) on the proliferation, cytolytic activity, and cytokine secretion of the isolated endometrial CD16 neg CD56 bright NK cells were examined using a 3H-thymidine incorporation assay, 51Cr-releasing assay, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Result(s) Neither 17β-estradiol nor progesterone had significant effects on the proliferation, cytolytic activity, and cytokine secretion of endometrial CD16 neg CD56 bright NK cells. Conclusion(s) Female sex steroids do not directly affect the bioactivity of the human endometrial CD16 neg CD56 bright NK cells.