Cytokine production by CD16-CD56bright natural killer cells in the human early pregnancy decidua

• Published in: International immunology Vol. 5; no. 5; p. 559
• Main Authors: Saito, S, Nishikawa, K, Morii, T, Enomoto, M, Narita, N, Motoyoshi, K, Ichijo, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.05.1993
• Subjects: Antigens, CD; Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; Base Sequence; CD56 Antigen; Cell Separation; Cytokines - biosynthesis; Cytokines - genetics; Decidua - cytology; Decidua - immunology; DNA - genetics; Female; Humans; Killer Cells, Natural - immunology; Molecular Sequence Data; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Pregnancy; Receptors, IgG; RNA, Messenger - genetics
• ISSN: 0953-8178
• DOI: 10.1093/intimm/5.5.559

Using a cell sorter, CD16-CD56bright natural killer (NK) cells were sorted from decidual mononuclear cells at an early stage of pregnancy. These cells were examined by the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method for their expression of mRNA coding for the following 12 cytokines: IL-1 beta, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). Although mRNA coding for every cytokine was detected in decidual mononuclear cells, mRNAs coding for only G-CSF, GM-CSF, M-CSF, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, and LIF were detected in CD16-CD56bright NK cells. Also, the supernatant of CD16-CD56bright NK cell cultures was found to contain G-CSF, GM-CSF, M-CSF, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, and LIF. These findings indicate that CD16-CD56bright NK cells produce many different cytokines and that these cytokines may play an important role in a successful pregnancy.