Uterine Natural Killer Cells in Perforin and .BETA.2-Microglobulin Deficient Mice

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Uterine natural killer (uNK) cells have roles for immune responses at the feto-maternal interface in mice. We studied the effects of β 2 -microglobulin (β 2 m) and perforin on proliferation and differentiation of uNK cells in pregnancy, using β 2 -microglobulindeficient (β 2 m -/-) mice and perforin-deficient (P -/-) mice. The cell population of uNK cells in the metrial gland of P -/-mice was tended to be higher than the control B6 mice. The cell population of uNK cells in the metrial gland of β 2 m -/-mice was significantly increased at Day 12 of pregnancy comparing to B6 and P -/-mice. On the other hand, the cell population of uNK cells in the decidua basalis of β 2 m -/-mice was tended to be lower than B6 and P -/-mice. These results indicate that β 2 m may be involved in proliferation of uNK cells in the metrial gland, and that β 2 m may affect the maturation of uNK cells in the decidua basalis. KEY WORDS: β 2 -microglobulin, perforin, uterine natural killer cell.