Regulation of natural-killer cell cytotoxicity and enhancement of complement factors in the spontaneously aborted mouse placenta

Ken Kusakabe, Mayumi Naka, Yuko Ito, Nabil Eid, Yoshinori Otsuki

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the cytotoxicity of uterine natural killer (NK) cells and identify major biological factors fluctuating in the spontaneously aborted placenta. Design: Spontaneously aborted placentae were examined by using histology, molecular biology, and DNA microarray analysis. Setting: Laboratories and animal center at a medical college. Animal(s): C57BL/6 mice. Intervention(s): None. Main Outcome Measure(s): Up-regulation of the inhibitory system of uterine NK cells and enhancement of complement factors in aborted placenta. Result(s): In uteri on day 14 of pregnancy, 9.69% ± 11.6% (±SD) implantation sites spontaneously aborted. Labyrinthine trophoblasts at abortion sites had nuclei that were positive for DNA fragment detection, as well as apoptotic morphology. Many uterine NK cells were present at abortion sites, but cytotoxic factors such as perforin, granzyme B, and Fas-Fas ligand were expressed at very low levels. In contrast, the expression level of Ly49 NK-cell receptors, which mediate an inhibitory signal for cytotoxicity, was enhanced at abortion sites. Deoxyribonucleic acid microarray analysis showed that adipsin, an activating enzyme for complement component C3, was strongly enhanced in aborted placenta, and positive reactions for adipsin and C3 were confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Conclusion(s): In the process of spontaneous abortion, the cytotoxicity of uterine NK cells is inhibited, and the innate immune system through adipsin and complement C3 appears to be influential.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1451-1459
Number of pages9
JournalFertility and Sterility
Volume90
Issue number4 SUPPL.
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2008
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Adipsin
  • Ly49
  • complement C3
  • spontaneous abortion
  • uterine NK cells

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Reproductive Medicine
  • Obstetrics and Gynaecology

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