Changes in expression of Ki-67, CD16 and CD56 by natural killer cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells in the setting of recurrent miscarriage after in vitro culturing in the presence of trophoblast cells and IL-2.

The aim of this research was to assess the proliferative activity of Natural Killer Cells (NK cells) from Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) in the presence of trophoblast cells in women with a history of recurrent miscarriages. We examined the peripheral blood of women with recurrent miscarriage in the proliferative (n = 12) or secretory (n = 13) phase of their menstrual cycle, and pregnant women with a history of recurrent miscarriage at 6-7 weeks of their current pregnancy (n = 14). Controls were fertile non-pregnant women in the proliferative (n = 11) or secretory (n = 13) phase of their menstrual cycle, and pregnant women at 6-7 weeks of a physiologically normal pregnancy (n = 20).

Cytotoxic Activity of Peripheral Blood NK Cells towards Trophoblast Cells during Pregnancy.

We evaluated cytotoxic activity of peripheral blood NK cells towards trophoblast cells. NK cells either isolated or in the composition of mononuclear cell fraction, caused death of trophoblast cells. In women with physiological pregnancy, the cytotoxic effect of NK cells present in mononuclear cell fraction preincubated with IL-2 was lower than in nonpregnant women, who had never been pregnant previously, and in fertile women.