Expressions of natural cytotoxicity receptor, NKG2D and NKG2D ligands in endometriosis

• Published in: Journal of reproductive immunology Vol. 136; p. 102615
• Main Author: Xu, Hong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier B.V 01.11.2019
• Subjects: Adult; CD56 Antigen - immunology; Endometriosis - immunology; Endometriosis - pathology; Female; Gene Expression Regulation - immunology; GPI-Linked Proteins - immunology; Humans; Killer Cells, Natural - immunology; Killer Cells, Natural - pathology; Middle Aged; Natural cytotoxicity receptors; Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 1 - immunology; Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 3 - immunology; NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K - immunology; NKG2D; NKG2D ligands; Ovarian endometriosis; Receptors, IgG - immunology; Ovarian endometriosis; NKG2D; NKG2D ligands; Natural cytotoxicity receptors
• ISSN: 0165-0378; 1872-7603; 1872-7603
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2019.102615

•The relationship between NCRs, NKG2D and NKG2D ligands and the pathogenesis of endometriosis is investigated.•In PF with endometriosis, expressions of NKp30 and NKG2D on CD56+NK cells were decreased, but expression of NKp46 on CD16+NK cells was increased.•It may indicate that pelvic endometriosis is probably due to local immune changes.•The protein expression of ULBP-2 on eutopic endometrial cells with endometriosis was lower. Pathogenesis of endometriosis is still unknown, and the relationship between NK cell activating receptors and endometriosis remains to be explored. We investigated the expression of NCRs and NKG2D in NK cells in peripheral blood (PB) and peritoneal fluid (PF) as well as expression of NKG2D ligands in endometrial cells, and illuminated their relationship with ovarian endometriosis. 20 patients with ovarian endometriosis and 13 subjects for control group were recruited. Flow cytometry was used for examining expressions of NCRs and NKG2D on NK cells. In PF with endometriosis, the expressions of NKp30 (P = 0. 006) and NKG2D (P = 0. 010) on CD56+NK cells were decreased, whereas the expression of NKp46 (P = 0. 040) on CD16+NK cells was higher than that of control. Real time PCR and Western blotting were used for detecting expression of NKG2D ligands. mRNA level of NKG2D ligands on endometrial cells showed no noticeable difference. As for protein expression, the ULBP-2 expression on eutopic endometrial cells with pelvic endometriosis was lower than that on ectopic endometrial cells and eutopic endometrial cells without endometriosis (P < 0.05), and the ULBP-3 expression on ectopic endometrial cells was lower than that on eutopic endometrial cells with or without endometriosis (P < 0.05). These findings indicate that change of NKp30, NKp46 and NKG2D on NK cells in PF and ULBP-2, 3 on endometrial cells may relate to the pathogenesis of pelvic endometriosis. Especially, change of NK cell activating receptors in PF implies that pelvic endometriosis is probably due to local immune changes.