Human Decidual Lymphocytes and their Placental Ligands

描述(申请人提供)：这项研究的具体目的是检测人类蜕膜淋巴细胞的受体、配体和功能，以期了解它们在植入和怀孕中的可能作用。我们尤其希望： 1.检测人类蜕膜自然杀伤(NK)细胞过度表达的可能参与免疫反应下调的新蛋白的生物化学和可能的功能，继续分析这些细胞的转录谱，并研究它们的细胞毒性和分泌细胞因子的能力。 2.通过研究不变NKT(INKT)细胞与多种细胞上表达的CD1d的相互作用，通过检测其Vbeta谱系与细胞因子分泌的关系，通过检验它们在母胎界面调节免疫反应的假设以及通过检测其完整的转录谱来评估iNKT细胞在蜕膜中的作用。 3.检测蜕膜NK、iNKT细胞I类MHC蛋白配体及GM-CSF受体在胎盘中的表达，探讨胎盘绒毛外细胞滋养细胞与NK、iNKT细胞及GM-CSF的相互作用。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The specific aims of this research are to examine the receptors, ligands, and functions of human decidual lymphocytes with a view to understanding their possible roles in implantation and pregnancy. In particular, we wish: 1. To examine the biochemistry and possible functions of novel proteins overexpressed by human decidual natural killer (NK) cells that may be involved in down-modulation of the immune response, to continue analysis of the transcriptional profiles of these cells and to study their cytoxicity and ability to secrete cytokines. 2. To assess the role of invariant NKT (iNKT) cells in the decidua by studying their interaction with CD1d expressed on several cell types, by examining the relation of their Vbeta repertoire to cytokine secretion, by testing the hypothesis that they function to regulate the immune response at the maternal-fetal interface and by examining their complete transcriptional profiles. 3. To examine the expression in the placenta of putative Class I MHC protein ligands for decidual NK and iNKT cells and of the GM-CSF receptor and to examine the interaction of placental extravillous cytotrophoblasts with NK and iNKT cells and with GM-CSF.