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ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Human Uterine NK Cells Interact with Uterine Macrophages via NKG2D upon Stimulation with PAMPs
Author(s) -
Basu Satarupa,
Eriksson Mikael,
Pioli Patricia A.,
ConejoGarcia Jose,
Mselle Teddy F.,
Yamamoto Satoshi,
Wira Charles R.,
Sentman Charles L.
Publication year - 2009
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.1600-0897.2008.00661.x
Subject(s) - nkg2d , innate immune system , immune system , biology , stimulation , microbiology and biotechnology , endometrium , immunology , mhc class i , receptor , major histocompatibility complex , endocrinology , cytotoxic t cell , in vitro , biochemistry
Problem The initiation of an immune response often involves the cooperation of various innate immune cells. In the human endometrium, uterine natural killer (uNK) cells and uterine macrophages are present in significant numbers and in close proximity, yet how they cooperatively respond to infectious challenge is poorly understood. Method of study Primary autologous uNK cells and macrophages were co‐cultured to determine functional interactions after stimulation with pathogen‐associated molecular patterns. Results After stimulation by polyI:C, human uNK cells interact with autologous uterine macrophages and produce interferon‐γ in an NKG2D‐dependent manner. Stimulated primary uterine macrophages up‐regulated the expression of MHC Class I chain‐related protein A (MICA), but expression of the cognate receptor NKG2D remained unchanged on uNK cells, even in the presence of cytokines. Conclusion This study demonstrates that the NKG2D‐MICA interaction is an important molecular mechanism that is involved in the innate immune response to microbial signals in the human uterine endometrium.