CD56 super(+) Cells are Recruited to the Uterus in Two Waves: at Ovulation and During the First 2 Weeks after Missed Menses

• Published in: American journal of reproductive immunology (1989) Vol. 59; no. 2; pp. 90 - 98
• Main Authors: van den Heuvel, Marianne J, Hatta, Kota, Peralta, Crystal G, Han, Victor K, Clark, David A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.02.2008
• ISSN: 1046-7408; 1600-0897
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0897.2007.00546.x

Uterine natural killer (uNK) cells are enriched in the post-ovulatory uterus and during pregnancy. Whether these cells arise from blood pre-cursors or from stem cells in the uterus is undefined. To support a hypothesis that precursors of uNK cells are recruited from blood, adhesive function of blood CD56 super(+) subsets were assessed during one cycle and during pregnancy. Fifteen women of proven fertility provided serial blood samples during one menstrual cycle and thirty women with a history of implantation failure or recurrent spontaneous abortion provided serial samples during infertility treatment. CD56 super(bright) cells, but not CD56 super(dim) cells or NKT cells, increased in ligand-binding capacity during ovulation in fertile cycles only and during the first 2 weeks from date of missed menses. Enhanced adhesive function at ovulation in CD56 super(bright) cells in fertile cycles and during early gestation supports a hypothesis of recruitment of pre-uNK cells from the blood CD56 super(bright) subset.