The Transcription Factor NFIL3 Is Essential for Normal Placental and Embryonic Development but Not for Uterine Natural Killer (UNK) Cell Differentiation in Mice.

Mice ablated for the gene encoding the transcription factor Nfil3 lack peripheral natural killer (NK) cells but retain tissue-resident NK cells, particularly in mucosal sites, including virgin uterus. We undertook a time course histological study of implantation sites from syngeneically (Nfil3(-/-)) and allogeneically (BALB/c) mated Nfil3(-/-) females. We also examined implantation sites from Rag2(-/-)Il2rg(-/-) females preconditioned by adoptive transfer of Nfil3(-/-) marrow or uterine cell suspensions to identify the Nfil3(-/-) pregnancy aberrations that could be attributed to nonlymphoid cells.