Conversion of Peripheral Blood NK Cells to a Decidual NK-like Phenotype by a Cocktail of Defined Factors

Overview

Journal J Immunol

Specialty Allergy & Immunology

Date 2013 Mar 15

PMID 23487420

Citations 104

Authors

Ana Sofia Cerdeira

Augustine Rajakumar

Caroline M Royle

Agnes Lo

Zaheed Husain

Ravi I Thadhani

Vikas P Sukhatme

S Ananth Karumanchi

Hernan D Kopcow

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

NK cells that populate the decidua are important regulators of normal placentation. In contrast to peripheral blood NK cells, decidual NK (dNK) cells lack cytotoxicity, secrete proangiogenic factors, and regulate trophoblast invasion. In this study we show that exposure to a combination of hypoxia, TGF-β1, and a demethylating agent results in NK cells that express killer cell Ig-like receptors, the dNK cell markers CD9 and CD49a, and a dNK pattern of chemokine receptors. These cells secrete vascular endothelial growth factor (a potent proangiogenic molecule), display reduced cytotoxicity, and promote invasion of human trophoblast cell lines. These findings have potential therapeutic applications for placental disorders associated with altered NK cell biology.

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