Skip to main content
Log in

The influence of chorionic gonadotropin and estriol on NK cell phenotype and functional activity

  • Published:
Human Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The influence of chorionic gonadotropin (CG) and estriol (Е3) at the concentrations typical of pregnancy on the expression of phenotypic markers and cytokine production by separated NK cells has been studied. It has been found that these hormones increase the percentage of CD56bright L-selectin+ NK cells, but also stimulate the expression of the inhibitory molecule NKG2A in the lymphocytes. In addition, Е3 and CG stimulate the production of TGF-β, inhibiting the secretion of all other cytokines by separated NK cells. In general, these hormones contribute to the formation of the phenotype and cytokine spectrum characteristic of the regulatory NK3 subpopulation of NK cells during pregnancy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Shirshev, S.V., Molecular mechanisms of hormonal and hormonal-cytokine control of immune tolerance in pregnancy, Biochem. (Moscow) Suppl. Ser. A: Membr. Cell Biol., 2014, vol. 31, no. 5, p. 303.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Koopman, L.A., Kopcow, H.D., Rybalov, B., et al., Human decidual natural killer cells are a unique NK subset with immunomodulatory potential, J. Exp. Med., 2003, vol. 198, no. 8, p. 1201.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. Pierdominici, M., Maselli, A., Colasanti, T., et al., Estrogen receptor profiles in human peripheral blood lymphocytes, Immunol. Lett., 2010, vol. 132, nos. 1–2, p. 79.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Kane, N., Kelly, R., Saunders, P.T.K., and Critchley, H.O.D., Proliferation of uterine natural killer cells is induced by hCG and mediated via the mannose receptor, Endocrinology, 2009, vol. 150, no. 6, p. 2882.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Cole, L.A., HCG, the wonder of today’s science, Reprod. Biol. Endocrinol., 2012, vol. 10, p. 24.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Kase, N.G. and Reyniak, J.V., Endocrinology of pregnancy, Mt. Sinai J. Med., 1985, vol. 52, no. 1, p. 11.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Vitale, M., Bassini, A., Secchiero, M., et al., NK-active cytokines IL-2, IL-12 and IL-15 selectively modulate specific protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms in primary human NK cells, Anat. Rec., 2002, vol. 266, no. 2, p. 87.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Saito, S., Nakashima, A., Myojo-Higuma, S., and Shiozaki, A., The balance between cytotoxic NK cells and regulatory NK cells in human pregnancy, J. Reprod. Immunol., 2008, vol. 77, no. 1, p. 14.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Emmer, P.M., Nelen, W.L., Steegers, E.A., et al., Peripheral natural killer cytotoxicity and CD56(pos)CD16(pos) cells increase during early pregnancy in women with a history of recurrent spontaneous abortion, Hum. Reprod., 2000, vol. 15, no. 5, p. 1163.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. van den Heuvel, M.J., Chantakru, S., Xuemei, X., et al., Trafficking of circulating pro-NK cells to the decidualizing uterus: regulatory mechanisms in the mouse and human, Immunol. Invest., 2005, vol. 34, no. 3, p. 273.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Dosiou, C. and Giudice, L.C., Natural killer cells in pregnancy and recurrent pregnancy loss: endocrine and immunologic perspectives, Endocr. Rev., 2005, vol. 26, no. 1, p. 44.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Zhang, C., Zhang, J., and Tian, Z., The regulatory effect of natural killer cells: do “NK-reg cells” exist?, Cell. Mol. Immunol., 2006, vol. 3, no. 4, p. 241.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Higuma-Myojo, S., Sasaki, Y., Miyazaki, S., et al., Cytokine profile of natural killer cells in early human pregnancy, Am. J. Reprod. Immunol., 2005, vol. 54, no. 1, p. 21.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Passos, S.T., Silver, J.S., O’Hara, A.C., et al., IL-6 promotes NK cell production of IL-17 during toxoplasmosis, J. Immunol., 2010, vol. 184, no. 4, p. 1776.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. Pandya, A.D., Al-Jaderi, Z., Høglund, R.A., et al., Identification of human NK17/NK1 cells, PLoS One, 2011, vol. 6, no. 10, p. e26780.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. Ziolkowska, M., Koc, A., Luszczykiewicz, G., et al., Cutting edge: Notch signaling induces a distinct cytokineprofile in dendritic cells that supports T cell-mediated regulation and IL-2-dependent IL-17 production, J. Immunol., 2000, vol. 164, p. 2832.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Wang, K.S., Frank, D.A., and Ritz, J., Interleukin-2 enhances the response of natural killer cells to interleukin-12 through up-regulation of the interleukin-12 receptor and STAT4, Blood, 2000, vol. 95, no. 10, p. 3183.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. King, A., Allan, D.S., Bowen, M., et al., HLA-E is expressed on trophoblast and interacts with CD94/NKG2 receptors on decidual NK cells, Eur. J. Immunol., 2000, vol. 30, no. 6, p. 1623.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Moffett-King, A., Natural killer cells and pregnancy, Nat. Rev. Immunol., 2002, vol. 2, no. 9, p. 656.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Ferrari, G., Cook, B.D., and Terushkin, V., Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-ß1) induces angiogenesis through vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-mediated apoptosis, J. Cell. Physiol., 2009, vol. 219, no. 2, p. 449.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  21. Cerdeira, A.S., Rajakumar, A., Royle, C.M., et al., Conversion of peripheral blood NK cells to a decidual NK-like phenotype by a cocktail of defined factors, J. Immunol., 2013, vol. 190, no. 8, p. 3939.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Shirshev, S.V., Mekhanizmy immunnogo kontrolya protsessov reproduktsii (Immune Control Mechanisms of Reproduction), Yekaterinburg: Ural. Otd. Ross. Akad. Nauk, 1999.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. V. Shirshev.

Additional information

Original Russian Text © S.V. Shirshev, I.V. Nekrasova, O.L. Gorbunova, E.G. Orlova, 2016, published in Fiziologiya Cheloveka, 2016, Vol. 42, No. 5, pp. 102–107.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Shirshev, S.V., Nekrasova, I.V., Gorbunova, O.L. et al. The influence of chorionic gonadotropin and estriol on NK cell phenotype and functional activity. Hum Physiol 42, 554–558 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0362119716050145

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0362119716050145

Keywords

Navigation