Role of uterine natural killer cells in angiogenesis of human decidua of the first-trimester pregnancy

Sci China C Life Sci. 2008 Feb;51(2):111-9. doi: 10.1007/s11427-008-0027-7.

Abstract

Decidualization is accompanied by extensive angiogenesis, which is an essential step in the maturation of new blood vessels in mammalian pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to determine a distribution of uNK cells (CD56(+) uNK or CD56(bright) cells) in human decidua of the first-trimester pregnancy, and investigate whether uNK cells in human decidua could express vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) and/or angiopoietin2 (Ang2). Our immunohistochemical staining results demonstrated that a great amount of uNK (CD56(+)) cells scattered throughout the decidual stroma and near endometrial gland and spiral vessels in human decidua. The protein expression of VEGF-A and Ang2 was detected in decidual stroma cells, capillary endothelial cells and glandular cells in tissue specimens. There was a positive correlation between microvessel density (MVD) and the number of the CD56-positive uNK cells in decidual stroma, and also between the number of the CD56-positive uNK cells and VEGF-A protein expression in the tissue. In addition, we found that uNK cells in human decidua could express VEGF-A mRNA, but not Ang2 mRNA, in isolated uNK cells in human decidua of the first-trimester gestation by combination of LCM and Nested-PCR. Our study indicated that uNK cells, through expressing VEGF-A, may play an important role in the angiogenic response at the time of human decidualization and early placenta development.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Decidua / blood supply
  • Decidua / cytology
  • Decidua / growth & development*
  • Decidua / immunology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Killer Cells, Natural / cytology
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology*
  • Lymphocyte Count
  • Microcirculation / cytology
  • Microcirculation / immunology
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic / immunology*
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Trimester, First / immunology*