TY - JOUR
T1 - The Unique Properties of Uterine NK Cells
AU - Manaster, Irit
AU - Mandelboim, Ofer
PY - 2010/6
Y1 - 2010/6
N2 - Citation Manaster I, Mandelboim O. The unique properties of uterine NK cells. Am J Reprod Immunol 2009. Natural killer (NK) cells are lymphocytes of the innate immunity system that are able to kill various hazardous pathogens and tumors. However, it is now widely accepted that NK cells also possess non-destructive functions, as has been demonstrated for uterine NK cells. Here, we review the unique properties of the NK cells in the uterine mucosa, prior to and during pregnancy. We discuss the phenotype and function of mouse and human endometrial and decidual NK cells and suggest that the major function of decidual NK cells is to assist in fetal development. We further discuss the origin of decidual NK cells and suggest several possibilities that might explain their accumulation in the decidua during pregnancy.
AB - Citation Manaster I, Mandelboim O. The unique properties of uterine NK cells. Am J Reprod Immunol 2009. Natural killer (NK) cells are lymphocytes of the innate immunity system that are able to kill various hazardous pathogens and tumors. However, it is now widely accepted that NK cells also possess non-destructive functions, as has been demonstrated for uterine NK cells. Here, we review the unique properties of the NK cells in the uterine mucosa, prior to and during pregnancy. We discuss the phenotype and function of mouse and human endometrial and decidual NK cells and suggest that the major function of decidual NK cells is to assist in fetal development. We further discuss the origin of decidual NK cells and suggest several possibilities that might explain their accumulation in the decidua during pregnancy.
KW - Decidual NK cells
KW - Endometrial NK cells
KW - Pregnancy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77953932635&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.1600-0897.2009.00794.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1600-0897.2009.00794.x
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C2 - 20055791
AN - SCOPUS:77953932635
SN - 1046-7408
VL - 63
SP - 434
EP - 444
JO - American Journal of Reproductive Immunology
JF - American Journal of Reproductive Immunology
IS - 6
ER -