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ORIGINAL ARTICLE: CD56 + Cells are Recruited to the Uterus in Two Waves: at Ovulation and During the First 2 Weeks after Missed Menses
Author(s) -
Van Den Heuvel Marianne J.,
Hatta Kota,
Peralta Crystal G.,
Han Victor K.,
Clark David A.
Publication year - 2008
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/j.1600-0897.2007.00546.x
Subject(s) - ovulation , uterus , unexplained infertility , infertility , andrology , pregnancy , menstrual cycle , gestation , biology , medicine , gynecology , endocrinology , physiology , hormone , genetics
Problem 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 + subsets were assessed during one cycle and during pregnancy. Method of study 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. Results CD56 bright cells, but not CD56 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. Conclusion Enhanced adhesive function at ovulation in CD56 bright cells in fertile cycles and during early gestation supports a hypothesis of recruitment of pre‐uNK cells from the blood CD56 bright subset.