Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 24, 2026

A Novel Feeder-free System for Mass Production of Murine Natural Killer Cells In Vitro
Published on: January 9, 2018
Uterine Natural Killer Cells
Dorothy K Sojka1, Liping Yang1, Wayne M Yokoyama1
1Rheumatology Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States.
Abstract:
Natural killer (NK) cells are members of a rapidly expanding family of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs). While most previously studied NK cells were derived from the mouse spleen and circulate in the blood, recently others and we found tissue-resident NK (trNK) cells in many tissues that resemble group 1 ILCs (ILC1s). During pregnancy, NK cells are the most abundant lymphocytes in the uterus at the maternal-fetal interface and are involved in placental vascular remodeling. Prior studies suggested that these uterine NK (uNK) cells are mostly derived from circulating NK cells. However, the murine virgin uterus contains mostly trNK cells and it has been challenging to determine their contribution to uNK cells in pregnancy as well as other potential function(s) of uNK cells due to the dynamic microenvironment in the pregnant uterus. This review focuses on the origins and functions of the heterogeneous populations of uNK cells during the course of murine pregnancy.
Related Concept Videos
Uterine Tubes
What is Natural Selection?
Nature and Nurture
Chirality in Nature
The Wave Nature of Light
Limits to Natural Selection

