IL-15 plays a key role in the regulation of perforin expression at the maternal-fetal interface

Autor: Sotošek, Vlatka, Štrbo, Nataša, Laškarin, Gordana, Bedenicki, Ivica, Randić, Ljiljana, Rukavina, Daniel
Přispěvatelé: Rabatić, S.
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 1999
Předmět:
Popis: Human first trimester pregnancy decidua is abundantly infiltrated by cells of NK like phenotype (dNK). These cells are CD3-CD16-CD56bright large granular lymphocytes with a high content of cytolytic protein perforin (P bright). Very complex cytokine network is operating at the interface and can influence perforin content and reactivity of these cells. Since there is no IL-2 production at the interface, and IL-12 is a main cytokine in regulation of P expression, it is of particular interest to find which cytokine(s) is performing this important immunoregulatory role at the interface in normal pregnancy. Recently we have shown that the percentage of P+ cells decreases following 18 hrs incubation of the suspension of decidual lymphocytes (DL). This can be prevented by the addition of decidual adherent cells (DAC) or the supernatant of their culture. Further analyses showed that decidual macrophages (dM) are the source of stimuli holding P expression at so high levels. By using RT-PCR for mRNA detection clear message for P was obtained in DL stimulated either by IL-2 (100 i.u./ml) or IL-15 (2ng/ml). Further experiments showed that: a) antibodies anti-IL-15 block the effects of both dM and their supernatants on the level of P expression in the cultured DL, and b) the decrease of the percentage of DL can be prevented by IL-15 in a dose of 2 ng/ml. The results obtained support our hypothesis that during normal pregnancy IL-15 has an essential role in the induction and maintenance of high level of cytolytic potential in decidual lymphocytes. These investigations are financially supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Republic of Croatia (Grant No.062001).
Databáze: OpenAIRE