engleski

Cytolytic and apoptotic signalling pathways at the maternal-fetal interface

The uterus and the placenta are immunologically privileged sites with effectively diminished immune activity during pregnancy. The decidua is the maternal part of the placenta in which there is a close contact between maternal and fetal cells. Thus, the decidual cells play an important role in acceptance of the fetus and the control of trophoblast invasion. The great majority of leukocytes infiltrating the decidua are CD56brightCD16- natural killer (NK) cells. Together with cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), they are critical for host defense against stressed, microbe-infected or malignant cells. Both of these cells contain within their granules a high concentration of the pore-forming protein perforin, a primary mediator in cell-mediated cytotoxicity reactions. In addition, a novel cytolytic molecule granulysin is co localized in the granules of NK cells and activated CTLs, together with perforin and granzymes. Beside the major mechanism of killing, granule-mediated exocytosis, NK cells also utilize signaling through the tumor necrosis factor death receptor family members (Fas/FasL cytolytic pathway). Although the cytolytic machinery of decidual lymphocytes is primed to kill, it is at the same time under efficient control in order to prevent activation that could lead to pregnancy termination. Therefore, it is generally believed that the cytokine and hormonal balance plays an important role in the tolerance and maintenance of pregnancy.

NK cells, granulysin, cytotoxic cells, pregnancy, perforin, CTL

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