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NK 22 Cells in the Uterine Mid‐Secretory Endometrium and Peripheral Blood of Women with Recurrent Pregnancy Loss and Unexplained Infertility
Author(s) -
Kamoi Mai,
Fukui Atsushi,
KwakKim Joanne,
Fuchinoue Kohei,
Funamizu Ayano,
Chiba Hitomi,
Yokota Megumi,
Fukuhara Rie,
Mizunuma Hideki
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
american journal of reproductive immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.071
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1600-0897
pISSN - 1046-7408
DOI - 10.1111/aji.12356
Subject(s) - endometrium , unexplained infertility , infertility , flow cytometry , peripheral blood , medicine , cytokine , pregnancy , andrology , endometrial biopsy , immunology , gynecology , biology , genetics
Problem We aimed to investigate natural killer 22 ( NK 22) cells in the peripheral blood and the uterine endometrium of women with unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss ( URPL ) and unexplained infertility ( UI ). Method of study Peripheral blood and endometrial samples were collected from women with URPL ( n = 43) and UI ( n = 38). Intracellular cytokine production, such as IL ‐22, IFN ‐γ and TNF ‐α, and the expression of NK p46 on NK cells were analyzed by three‐color flow cytometry. Results The percentages of endometrial CD 56 + / IL ‐22 + and CD 56 dim / IL ‐22 + cells in women with URPL were significantly higher than those of UI ( P < 0.05, respectively). In addition, the percentage of CD 56 bright / IL ‐22 + cells in women with RPL was negatively correlated with those of CD 56 bright / IFN ‐γ + and CD 56 bright / TNF ‐α + in both peripheral blood and endometrial NK cells. This was not seen in women with UI . The percentage of CD 56 bright / IL ‐22 + cells was negatively correlated with CD 56 bright / NK p46 expressing NK cells in peripheral blood. Conclusion Endometrial NK 22 cells are differently regulated in women with URPL and UI . Women with URPL have higher level of NK 22 cells with a potential to induce NK 2 shift than women with UI .