Human uterine NK cells interact with uterine macrophages via NKG2D upon stimulation with PAMPs.

Problem: The initiation of an immune response often involves the cooperation of various innate immune cells. In the human endometrium, uterine natural killer (uNK) cells and uterine macrophages are present in significant numbers and in close proximity, yet how they cooperatively respond to infectious challenge is poorly understood.

Method Of Study: Primary autologous uNK cells and macrophages were co-cultured to determine functional interactions after stimulation with pathogen-associated molecular patterns.

Estradiol regulates MICA expression in human endometrial cells.

The human endometrium undergoes cyclical changes regulated by sex hormones. Evidence suggests that sex hormones regulate NK cell recruitment into the uterus in large numbers. NKG2D is an activating receptor expressed on human NK cells, gammadelta and CD8 T cells.

TLRs mediate IFN-gamma production by human uterine NK cells in endometrium.

The human endometrium (EM) contains macrophages, NK cells, T cells, B cells, and neutrophils in contact with a variety of stromal and epithelial cells. The interplay between these different cell types and their roles in defense against pathogen invasion in this specialized tissue are important for controlling infection and reproduction. TLRs are a family of receptors able to recognize conserved pathogen-associated molecular patterns.