Expression of NK cell receptors on decidual T cells in human pregnancy

J Reprod Immunol. 2009 Jun;80(1-2):22-32. doi: 10.1016/j.jri.2009.02.004. Epub 2009 Apr 25.

Abstract

Specific receptors enable NK cells to discriminate between cells with normal expression of MHC class I and cells that have low or absent expression of MHC class I molecules. In addition to NK cells, these receptors can be expressed on T cell subsets, mainly on CD8+ T cells but also on gammadeltaTCR+ T cells and CD4+ T cells. Although the function of NK cell receptor expression on T cells is not completely understood, various studies have shown that they are involved in down regulation of T cell receptor (TCR)-mediated activation and influence effector functions, like cytotoxicity and cytokine production. The aim of this study was to analyze expression of NK cell receptors on peripheral blood and decidual T cells during human pregnancy using flow cytometry. We demonstrate that a proportion of decidual T cells express HLA-C specific killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs). Furthermore, a small proportion of decidual T cells express the HLA-E specific CD94-NKG2A inhibitory and CD94-NKG2C activating receptors. Decidual KIR+ and CD94-NKG2+ T cells mainly display a CD3+CD4-CD8- phenotype. However, decidual tissue also contains higher percentages of KIR and CD94-NKG2 expressing CD4+ and CD8+ T cells compared to peripheral blood. So far, the functional capacities of decidual T cells expressing the NK cell receptors are unknown but NK cell receptor expression on decidual T cells may provide an alternative means by which decidual T cells distinguish self (maternal) cells from allogeneic fetal cells, and act to modulate the decidual immune response.

MeSH terms

  • Blood Circulation / physiology*
  • CD3 Complex
  • CD4 Antigens
  • CD8 Antigens
  • Decidua / cytology
  • Decidua / immunology*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • HLA Antigens / immunology
  • HLA Antigens / metabolism
  • HLA-C Antigens / immunology
  • HLA-C Antigens / metabolism
  • HLA-E Antigens
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / immunology
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / metabolism
  • Histocompatibility Testing
  • Humans
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C / genetics
  • NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C / immunology
  • NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C / metabolism
  • NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D / genetics
  • NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D / immunology
  • NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D / metabolism
  • Pregnancy
  • Receptors, KIR2DL3 / genetics
  • Receptors, KIR2DL3 / immunology
  • Receptors, KIR2DL3 / metabolism*
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / physiology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / physiology*
  • Transplantation Tolerance / immunology

Substances

  • CD3 Complex
  • CD4 Antigens
  • CD8 Antigens
  • HLA Antigens
  • HLA-C Antigens
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
  • KLRD1 protein, human
  • NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C
  • NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D
  • Receptors, KIR2DL3