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Isolation of Uterine Innate Lymphoid Cells for Analysis by Flow Cytometry
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Innate Lymphoid Cells in Human Pregnancy
João Mendes1,2,3,4, Ana Luísa Areia1,2,3,4,5, Paulo Rodrigues-Santos1,2,4,6,7
1Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
Frontiers in Immunology
|December 17, 2020
Summary
Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are crucial immune cells impacting pregnancy. This review highlights their diversity, particularly NK cells, and their role in immune tolerance and potential pregnancy complications.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Perinatal Medicine
Background:
- Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are a recently identified component of the innate immune system.
- ILCs are categorized into five subsets, including natural killer (NK) cells, group 1, 2, and 3 ILCs, and lymphoid tissue inducers (LTis).
- These cells share functional similarities with T helper cells but lack T cell receptor expression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To distinguish between peripheral and decidual NK cells, emphasizing their diversity within ILC biology.
- To explore the significance of ILCs in human pregnancy, immunity, inflammation, and tissue repair.
- To address knowledge gaps in perinatal medicine concerning ILC biology and their role in pregnancy.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent scientific literature on innate lymphoid cells and their functions.
- Characterization of ILC subsets based on transcription factors and cytokine profiles.
- Analysis of ILC roles in immune tolerance and disease, with a focus on pregnancy.
Main Results:
- ILCs are vital effector cells involved in immunity, inflammation, and tissue repair.
- Specific focus on the diversity and function of NK cells in peripheral versus decidual tissues during pregnancy.
- Dysregulation of ILCs can negatively impact pregnancy outcomes, potentially leading to loss.
Conclusions:
- ILCs play a critical role in maintaining immune tolerance during human pregnancy.
- Understanding ILC diversity and function is essential for perinatal medicine.
- Aberrant ILC activity is linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes and diseases.
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