ABSTRACT
In this descriptive flow cytometric study we analyzed the phenotype of human large granular lymphocytes from the decidua (DLGL) of first-trimester pregnancy. Expression of CD56 at high density on DLGL suggests a relationship to the small CD56bright+ subpopulation of peripheral blood natural killer (PBNK) cells. In comparison, these cell types differ in respect to the expression of a variety of adhesion molecules and receptors implicated in homing, migration and activation. In contrast to CD56bright+ PBNK cells, DLGL were still brighter for CD56 and show higher expression for CD29 and CD45RO. Less expression was found for CD15s, CD43, CD44, CD45RA, CD62L and HLA-DR. CD11a to c and CD18 were distributed in bimodal form on DLGL, part of the cells being negative. In summary, we found considerable differences between the cell surface marker profiles of DLGL and PBNK cells (subpopulations of the latter being separately analyzed).
Subject(s)
Antigens, CD , Decidua/cytology , Killer Cells, Natural/immunology , Pregnancy/blood , Adolescent , Adult , CD11 Antigens/analysis , CD18 Antigens/analysis , CD56 Antigen/analysis , Decidua/immunology , Female , Flow Cytometry , HLA-DR Antigens/analysis , Humans , Hyaluronan Receptors/analysis , Immunophenotyping , Integrin beta1/analysis , Killer Cells, Natural/cytology , L-Selectin/analysis , Leukocyte Common Antigens/analysis , Leukosialin , Lewis X Antigen/analysis , Male , Pregnancy/immunology , Pregnancy Trimester, First , Receptors, IgG/analysis , Sialoglycoproteins/analysisABSTRACT
We investigated the presence of integrins and various other cell surface markers on the surface of freshly isolated CD56dim+ and CD56bright+ NK cells, the latter comprising a mean of 6.5% of total peripheral blood (PB) CD3-CD56+ NK cells. This small subpopulation stained more intensively for CD2, CD11c, CD15s, CD44, CD49e, CD55, CD62L, HLA-DR, and GZS-1, whereas there was no expression of CD49f in contrast to CD56dim+ cells. The myeloid antigen CDw65 was present on 11% of CD56bright+ cells, other myeloid markers were not found. 28% of CD56bright+ cells were positive for CD45R0. These results support the notion that CD56bright+ NK cells, based on their different marker profile, may possess different functional and biodistributional properties and--due to the signal-transducing capabilities of several adhesion molecules--differential patterns of stimulatability compared to the majority of PB-NK cells.
