CD200S-positive granulated lymphoid cells in endometrium appear to be CD56-positive uterine NK cells

David A Clark; Amir Reihani; Jorge L Arredondo; Kjetil Ask; Warren G Foster

doi:10.1016/j.jri.2022.103477

CD200S-positive granulated lymphoid cells in endometrium appear to be CD56-positive uterine NK cells

J Reprod Immunol. 2022 Mar:150:103477. doi: 10.1016/j.jri.2022.103477. Epub 2022 Jan 14.

Authors

David A Clark¹, Amir Reihani², Jorge L Arredondo³, Kjetil Ask², Warren G Foster⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medicine, Faculty of Heath Sciences, McMaster University, Canada; Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, and Hamilton Health Sciences, McMaster Campus, Canada. Electronic address: clarkd@mcmaster.ca.
² Department of Medicine, Faculty of Heath Sciences, McMaster University, Canada.
³ Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, and Hamilton Health Sciences, McMaster Campus, Canada.
⁴ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Canada.

PMID: 35051828
DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2022.103477

Abstract

The eutopic secretory phase endometrium in endometriosis overproduces and releases a soluble immunosuppressive CD200 molecule (CD200L) and is populated by stromal cells that contain a truncated CD200 (CD200S) that promotes a proinflammatory environment. The CD200S⁺ cell population persists when pregnancy occurs and are abundant in the early pregnancy decidua of women with missed abortion. In the present study, CD200S⁺, CD56⁺, and CD68⁺ cells were enumerated in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections from women with endometriosis and non-endometriosis controls. CD200S⁺ cells were more numerous than CD68⁺ macrophages and were similar in number and location to CD56^bright endometrial NK cells. In some endometria, there was an additional population of CD200S^- CD56⁺ NK cells. In ectopic endometrial peritoneal deposits and in ectopic myometrial deposits (adenomyosis), CD200S⁺ cells were less frequent, consistent with the known paucity of CD56⁺ NK cells in sites of ectopic deposits. CD200S⁺ cell frequency was greater in stroma surrounding the smaller ectopic cystic deposits. Dual immunofluorescent antibody staining confirmed CD200S⁺ cells were CD56⁺ NK cells. CD200S⁺ NK cell frequency may be greater in endometriosis patients' endometrium and may affect embryo survival in early pregnancy. In our opinion, regulation of alternative splicing that results in CD200S rather than CD200L may provide new diagnostic and therapeutic options for women with endometriosis.

Keywords: CD200; Decidual NK cells; Endometrial NK cells; Endometriosis; Uterine NK cells.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Endometriosis*
Endometrium
Female
Humans
Killer Cells, Natural
Macrophages
Pregnancy
Uterus