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Gene expression of cytokines relevant to natural killer cell differentiation in mouse uterus during pregnancy
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Absfracts
revealed mRNA for the Ly-49 family of NK cell receptors in those tissues, and in preliminary studies also in gp42+ cells sorted from day 10 decidual cell isolates. Thus, granulated uNK cells are likely activated NK cells with Ly-49 receptors that may be influenced during differentiation by IL-15. Their locations suggest that they may play an important role in trophoblast invasion and/or the provision of the maternal placental vascular supply. Keywords:
NK cells; Decidua;
IL-15; Uterus
Gene expression of cytokines relevant to natural killer cell differentiation in mouse uterus during pregnancy Luchuan Liang, Judith R. Head. Green Center jbr Reproductive Biology Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA Dramatic changes occur in the mouse uterus during early pregnancy, including transformation of stromal cells to decidua and the proliferation and differentiation of uterine natural killer (uNK) cells into large, granulated cells that accumulate in the mesometrial decidua and the metrial gland. Cytokines including IL-2, IL-7, IL-12 and IL-15 can stimulate/activate splenic NK cells, but the factors regulating the proliferation and differentiation of uNK cells remain to be identified. In this study, expression of these cytokines was examined in the mouse decidua on days 6, 8, 10 and 12 (D 12) of pregnancy, and placentae and metrial glands on DlO and D12. Reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis suggested that IL-2, IL-7 and IL-12 are unlikely to be involved in the differentiation of uNK cells during early pregnancy. In contrast, IL-15 mRNA was detected by both RT-PCR and Northern blot analysis in all tissues examined except placenta. IL-15 specific receptor (IL-15 Ra) mRNA was present in the same tissues as IL-l 5 mRNA except the decidua on D12. In situ hybridization revealed that IL-l 5 mRNA was localized in some cells surrounding the embryo as well as in cells in the mesometrial decidua on D6 and 08. Interestingly, the distribution of IL-l 5Ra mRNA was localized in the same region as that of IL-15 mRNA. Only a few cells with IL- 15 mRNA were detected in the antimesometrial and mesometrial decidua on DlO, but both IL-15 and IL-15Ra mRNAs were localized to many cells in metrial glands on DlO and D12. These data indicate that IL-15 may be involved in the proliferation and differentiation of uNK cells during pregnancy. Keywords:
IL-15; NK cells; Decidua;
Metrial
gland
Absfracts
revealed mRNA for the Ly-49 family of NK cell receptors in those tissues, and in preliminary studies also in gp42+ cells sorted from day 10 decidual cell isolates. Thus, granulated uNK cells are likely activated NK cells with Ly-49 receptors that may be influenced during differentiation by IL-15. Their locations suggest that they may play an important role in trophoblast invasion and/or the provision of the maternal placental vascular supply. Keywords:
NK cells; Decidua;
IL-15; Uterus
Gene expression of cytokines relevant to natural killer cell differentiation in mouse uterus during pregnancy Luchuan Liang, Judith R. Head. Green Center jbr Reproductive Biology Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA Dramatic changes occur in the mouse uterus during early pregnancy, including transformation of stromal cells to decidua and the proliferation and differentiation of uterine natural killer (uNK) cells into large, granulated cells that accumulate in the mesometrial decidua and the metrial gland. Cytokines including IL-2, IL-7, IL-12 and IL-15 can stimulate/activate splenic NK cells, but the factors regulating the proliferation and differentiation of uNK cells remain to be identified. In this study, expression of these cytokines was examined in the mouse decidua on days 6, 8, 10 and 12 (D 12) of pregnancy, and placentae and metrial glands on DlO and D12. Reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis suggested that IL-2, IL-7 and IL-12 are unlikely to be involved in the differentiation of uNK cells during early pregnancy. In contrast, IL-15 mRNA was detected by both RT-PCR and Northern blot analysis in all tissues examined except placenta. IL-15 specific receptor (IL-15 Ra) mRNA was present in the same tissues as IL-l 5 mRNA except the decidua on D12. In situ hybridization revealed that IL-l 5 mRNA was localized in some cells surrounding the embryo as well as in cells in the mesometrial decidua on D6 and 08. Interestingly, the distribution of IL-l 5Ra mRNA was localized in the same region as that of IL-15 mRNA. Only a few cells with IL- 15 mRNA were detected in the antimesometrial and mesometrial decidua on DlO, but both IL-15 and IL-15Ra mRNAs were localized to many cells in metrial glands on DlO and D12. These data indicate that IL-15 may be involved in the proliferation and differentiation of uNK cells during pregnancy. Keywords:
IL-15; NK cells; Decidua;
Metrial
gland