Effects of ultraviolet light on human serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and systemic immune function.

Background: Many immune-mediated diseases are associated with low levels of vitamin D and sunlight. UV light or supplementation with vitamin D can increase regulatory T-cell activity and prevent animal models of autoimmune disease. Increasing population vitamin D levels may therefore alleviate the burden of human immune-mediated disease.

Natural killer cell receptor expression by human first trimester decidual granular leukocytes and T-lymphocytes.

Problem: Detailed analysis of the expression of natural killer (NK) cell activatory and inhibitory receptors by human decidual leukocyte subpopulations has not been undertaken.

Method Of Study: Expression of the natural cytotoxicity receptors NKp30, NKp44 and NKp46 by decidual leukocytes were studied by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Expression of the killer cell Ig-like receptors CD158a and CD158b on decidual T cells were studied by flow cytometry.