engleski

Natural killer and dendritic cell interaction at the maternal-fetal interface

Problem: The aim of this study was to analyze the interaction of decidual natural killer (NK) cells with autologous mature or immature dendritic cells (DC). Methods of study: Decidual mononuclear cells were isolated by enzymatic digestion and gradient density centrifugation. Phenotype, cytokine production and cytolytic mediator expression were measured by flow cytometry in NK and DC from the freshly isolated mononuclear cell suspension or after their purification and co-culture in vitro. Purification of CD56+ cells (>95%), immature CD1a+ (~35%) and mature CD83+ DC (~35%) was performed by positive magnetic separation. Proliferation of CFSE labeled CD56+ cells was analyzed by flow cytometer after the co-culture with mature and immature DC. Results: The majority of decidual CD1a+ DC show immature phenotype with high expression of CD14 molecule. Less than 10% of the whole CD1a+ population express CD83 and show mature phenotype with higher expression of HLA-DR and co-stimulatory CD80 and CD86 molecules. The percentage of IL-15 and IFN- producing cells was higher in immature than mature DC subpopulations, whereas the difference in IL-10 and IL-18 production have not been observed. Immature DC enhance short and long term cytolytic mediators expression (18 hrs) and proliferation rate of NK cells (48 hrs), but decrease their pro-inflammatory (IL-15, IFN- TNF-α ) cytokines production (18 hrs). Mature DC were inefficient in causing such effects. Both DC subpopulations support tolerogenic NK receptor repertoire expression on decidual NK cells. Conclusion: It seems that both tissue specific DC subpopulations are able to shape NK cell functions at the maternal-fetal unit. The experiments are partially financed by Croatian Ministry of Science Grant No. 0620402-0376 and EMBIC project, European FP6, NoE, No. 512040, LSHM-CT-2004-512040.

natural killer cells; dendritic cells; pregnancy

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