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Natural killer cells and reproductive failure
Anne S Devi Wold1, Aydin Arici
1Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA. anne.wold@yale.edu
Current Opinion in Obstetrics & Gynecology
|May 5, 2005
Summary
Natural killer cells play a role in reproduction, with altered levels observed in women experiencing reproductive failure. Their exact impact and diagnostic utility remain under investigation.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive immunology
- Cellular immunology
Background:
- Natural killer (NK) cells are immune cells found in reproductive tissues.
- Their role in successful pregnancy and reproductive failure is an area of ongoing research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current knowledge on the function of natural killer cells in human reproduction.
- To update understanding of NK cell involvement in pregnancy and infertility.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing scientific literature on natural killer cells and reproduction.
- Analysis of studies examining NK cell presence and activity in various reproductive contexts.
Main Results:
- NK cells are abundant in the uterus and crucial for early pregnancy.
- Elevated NK cell levels and activity are noted in peripheral blood of women with reproductive failure.
- Uterine NK cell data is conflicting; some studies show increased levels in recurrent pregnancy loss, others do not.
- Higher NK cell activity observed in spontaneous abortions with normal chromosomes.
- Increased cytotoxic CD56(dim)CD16+ NK cells in follicular fluid linked to idiopathic infertility and potentially reduced fertilization.
Conclusions:
- NK cell numbers and activity are altered in women with reproductive failure, but causality is unclear.
- NK cell levels vary depending on the analyzed tissue (blood, endometrium, decidua).
- Current evidence does not support routine NK cell testing for reproductive failure outside research settings.