Problem To investigate the relationship between the expression of natural cytotoxicity receptors (NCRs) on peritoneal fluid (PF) natural killer (NK) (pfNK) cells and cytokine production by pfNK cells in women with endometriosis. Method of study Peritoneal fluid was collected from women with endometriosis undergoing laparoscopic surgery (n = 21) and controls without endometriosis (n = 28). The expression of NK cell surface antigens such as CD16 and NCRs (NKp46, NKp44 and NKp30) on pfNK cells, and cytokines production by pfNK cells [tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, IFN‐γ, IL‐4, IL‐10, GM‐CSF and transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β1] were measured using multicolor flow cytometry. Results The percentages of CD56+/NKp46+ cells and CD56dim/NKp46+ cells in severe endometriosis group were significantly lower than that in controls. TNF‐α and IFN‐γ production by pfNK cells in severe endometriosis group was significantly higher than those in controls. Conclusion The differential expression of NKp46, TNF‐α, and IFN‐γ on pfNK cells in women with severe endometriosis may allow the proliferation and angiogenesis of endometriotic cells.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is characterized by glucose intolerance that is caused by metabolic changes during pregnancy, and is considered a risk factor for the occurrence of DM in future. There are studies that reported changes in the cytokine in women with GDM. The concentration of serum IFN-γ and adiponectin decreased, while serum leptin, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α increased in GDM women when compared to that in healthy pregnant women. 16 17 Placenta and adipose tissues from patients with GDM released higher amounts of TNF-α in response to high glucose than that from normal pregnant women.18 Plasma TNF-α were reported to be low during the first and second trimester, but it increased during late pregnancy, and was inversely correlated with the insulin sensitivity. 19, 20 However, the relationship between GDM and the functions of NK cells in pregnant women has not been clarified so far. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the expression of peripheral blood NK (pNK) cell surface markers (CD16, NKp46, and NKp30) and the percentage of cytokine (IFN-γ, TNF-α, TGF-β, and VEGF) producing pNK cells in women with / without GDM at 12 weeks of pregnancy. 2 Materials and Methods Study SubjectsWe designed a prospective study and patients from Hirosaki University Hospital were recruited for this study between July 2014 and March 2015. This study was approved by the local ethics committee, and signed informed consent forms were obtained from all study subjects. Blood samples were collected during routine blood tests for prenatal check-up at 12weeks of gestation.Thirty-four Japanese women (GDM (n=7), non-GDM (n=27)) with singleton pregnancy were included. All GDM patients were diagnosed at 12 to 16 weeks of gestation. Pregnant women with multi-fetal gestations, pre-gestational diabetes, and overt diabetes were excluded, while pregnant women with impaired glucose tolerance before the onset of pregnancy were included in this study. Maternal and neonatal characteristics are shown in Table 1. Two-hour-glucose level of 75-g OGTT in GDM group was significantly higher than that in the non-GDM group.There were no complications reported in the newborn infants (such as macrosomia, shoulder dystocia, and hypoglycemia) in both the GDM and non-GDM groups and there were no pregnant women suffering from PE in both the GDM and non-GDM groups. Screening of GDMAll pregnant women were subjected to a two-step screening method for GDM. This screening method is based on the Guideline for Obstetrical Practice in Japan 2014. 21 Briefly, women who had a random plasma glucose level of ≥95mg/dl at 12 weeks of gestation were subjected to 75-g OGTT after fasting overnight. Diagnosis of GDM was based on the criteria of one or more abnormal values [fasting ≥92mg/dl (5.1mmol/l), such as 1 hour ≥180mg/dl (10.0mmol/l) or 2 hour ≥153mg / dl (8.5mmol/l)] reported for the subjects. Pregnant women, not diagnosed as GDM at 12 weeks of screening, were again subjected to random blood glucose measurement at 3 28 weeks of gestation. Women with random...

Endometrial NK22 cells are differently regulated in women with URPL and UI. Women with URPL have higher level of NK22 cells with a potential to induce NK2 shift than women with UI.

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Expression of NKp46 is involved in cytokine production of CD56(+) NK cells in the peripheral blood and the uterine endometrium.

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Purpose : In human frozen immature oocytes, there has been little successful delivery. We examined the feasibility of vitrification solution including Taxol, cytoskeltal stabilizer. Methods : We set four experimental groups that immature oocytes has cumulus cells or not, or including Taxol or not in the vitrification solution. Frozen-thawed oocytes have been performed IVM, ICSI, and IVC. Results : There were no significant differences in survival, maturation, and fertilization rate, respectively. However, in the group enveloped by cumulus cells and including Taxol in the vitrification solution, one embryo was developed to blastocyst. Conclusions : Our results showed that using vitrification solution with Taxol proved so effective.

The regulation of uterine and peripheral blood natural killer (NK) cells has been associated with problems related to reproductive immunology such as recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL), implantation failure or preeclampsia. NKp46, one of the natural cytotoxicity receptors (NCRs), is a unique marker that functions in NK cell cytotoxicity and cytokine production. Expression of NKp46 on NK cells is lower in women with recurrent pregnancy loss and pregnancy-induced hypertension. Moreover, expression of NKp46 on peritoneal fluid NK cells is lower in women with pelvic endometriosis. Therefore, evaluation of NKp46 on peripheral blood NK cells may provide a means of screening for reproductive abnormalities. Recently, a new type of NK cell, the NK22 cell, has been reported. This cell may be a regulator not only of the mucosal barrier but also of reproduction. For women with RPL showing abnormal uterine and/or peripheral blood NK cells, both intravenous immunoglobulin treatment and intralipid treatment have been reported. The effects of these treatments are still controversial, and further studies are needed in order to clarify their true impact. The present review examines variations in the expression of NCRs on NK cells, the participation of NK22 cells in reproduction, and the possible use of intravenous immunoglobulin or intralipid treatment for women with recurrent pregnancy loss and NK cell abnormality.