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Updated: Aug 8, 2026
Isolation of Mouse Endometrial Epithelial and Stromal Cells for In Vitro Decidualization
Published on: March 2, 2017
Screening for cytokine messenger ribonucleic acids in purified human decidual lymphocyte populations by the
P P Jokhi1, A King, A M Sharkey
1Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Insights
Maternal uterine NK cells and T cells produce cytokines that may regulate early pregnancy. These decidual immune cells secrete factors like CSF-1 and LIF, crucial for controlling trophoblast development.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Immunology
- Cellular and Molecular Biology
- Pregnancy Research
Background:
- Maternal CD56brightCD16- NK cells are abundant in the uterus during embryo implantation.
- These cells are hypothesized to regulate invasive trophoblast cell migration and uterine spiral artery remodeling.
- Cytokine production is a potential mechanism for this immune cell-mediated control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cytokine mRNA expression in first-trimester decidual NK cells and T cells.
- To compare cytokine profiles of decidual immune cells with peripheral blood lymphocytes.
- To identify specific cytokines produced by decidual immune cells that may influence early pregnancy.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of highly purified (>99%) first-trimester decidual CD56brightCD16- NK cells and CD3+ T lymphocytes using FACS.
- Analysis of cytokine mRNA expression via reverse transcriptase PCR.
- Verification of PCR products using Southern blotting and hybridization.
Main Results:
- Decidual CD56brightCD16- NK cells and CD3+ T cells expressed mRNA for CSF-1, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, TGF-beta 1, and LIF.
- GM-CSF mRNA was detected exclusively in decidual CD56bright NK cells.
- Peripheral blood lymphocytes (NK and T cells) showed limited cytokine mRNA expression (only TNF-alpha and TGF-beta 1).
Conclusions:
- Decidual NK cells and T cells produce a diverse array of cytokines, including GM-CSF, CSF-1, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, TGF-beta 1, and LIF.
- These decidual immune cell-derived cytokines likely play a role in regulating trophoblast cell migration and differentiation.
- The distinct cytokine profiles suggest specialized functions for immune cells within the uterine environment during early pregnancy.
Abstract:
At the time of human embryo implantation, large numbers of maternal CD56brightCD16- NK cells appear in the uterus. These unusual lymphocytes are believed to control the migration and differentiation of highly invasive fetally derived trophoblast cells, which infiltrate into the maternal uterus to remodel the spiral arteries during the first trimester. One possible mechanism of control is by cytokine production. In this study, highly purified (> 99%) populations of first trimester decidual CD56brightCD16- NK cells and CD3+ T lymphocytes were obtained by using a FACS. These cells were examined by reverse transcriptase PCR for their expression of mRNAs for the following cytokines: granulocyte-macrophage (GM)-CSF, CSF-1, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, TGF-beta 1, leukemia-inhibitory factor (LIF), and IL-2. Then, the expression was compared with that of resting PBL. The identity of the PCR products was verified by Southern blotting and hybridization with cytokine-specific probes. Both decidual CD56brightCD16- NK cells and CD3+ T cells were found to express mRNA for CSF-1, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma TGF-beta 1, and LIF, but GM-CSF mRNA was detected only in CD56bright NK cells. IL-2 mRNA was detected in only some decidual T cell samples, and then only after at least two rounds of amplification. In contrast, peripheral blood CD56brightCD16- NK cells, CD56dimCD16+ NK cells, and CD3+ T cells expressed mRNA only for TNF-alpha and TGF-beta 1, but not for GM-CSF, CSF-1, IFN-gamma, LIF, or IL-2. These results suggest that both decidual NK cells and decidual T cells produce a variety of cytokines that may be involved in the control of trophoblast migration and differentiation during pregnancy.
