Effect of TIM-3 Blockade on the Immunophenotype and Cytokine Profile of Murine Uterine NK Cells

PLoS One. 2015 Apr 21;10(4):e0123439. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0123439. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

NK cells are the most abundant lymphocyte population in the feto-maternal interface during gestation. The uterine NK cells (uNK) are transient, have a unique immunophenotype and produce a number of cytokines. These cytokines play an important role in establishment and maintenance of vascular remodeling and tolerance associated with successful pregnancy. The uNK cells also express TIM-3 during gestation and blockade of TIM-3 expression results in fetal loss in mice. In this study we determined the effect of TIM-3 blockade on uNK cells. Specifically we observed surface receptor phenotype and cytokine production by uNK cells following TIM-3 blockade. Our results show that TIM-3 plays a role in regulating the uNK cells and contributes to the maintenance of tolerance at the feto-maternal interface.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Ly / metabolism
  • CD11b Antigen / metabolism
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chemokines / metabolism
  • Female
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / physiology
  • Hepatitis A Virus Cellular Receptor 2
  • Histocompatibility, Maternal-Fetal
  • Immune Tolerance
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Interleukin-15 / metabolism
  • Killer Cells, Natural
  • Male
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Inbred CBA
  • Placenta / immunology
  • Placenta / metabolism
  • Pregnancy
  • Receptors, Virus / physiology*
  • Uterus / cytology*
  • Uterus / immunology
  • Uterus / metabolism

Substances

  • Antigens, Ly
  • CD11b Antigen
  • Chemokines
  • Havcr2 protein, mouse
  • Hepatitis A Virus Cellular Receptor 2
  • Interleukin-15
  • Ly6 protein, mouse
  • Receptors, Virus
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor