Human Decidual Lymphocytes and their Placental Ligands

描述（由申请人提供）：本研究的具体目的是检查人蜕膜淋巴细胞的受体、配体和功能，以了解其在着床和妊娠中的可能作用。我们尤其希望： 1. 研究人类蜕膜自然杀伤（NK）细胞过度表达的新型蛋白质的生物化学和可能功能，这些蛋白质可能参与免疫应答的下调，继续分析这些细胞的转录谱，并研究其细胞毒性和分泌细胞因子的能力。 2. 通过研究其与几种细胞类型上表达的CD 1d的相互作用，通过检查其Vbeta库与细胞因子分泌的关系，通过测试其功能调节母胎界面免疫应答的假设，并通过检查其完整的转录谱，评估不变NKT（iNKT）细胞在蜕膜中的作用。 3. 检测胎盘中蜕膜NK和iNKT细胞的推定I类MHC蛋白配体和GM-CSF受体的表达，并检测胎盘绒毛外细胞滋养层与NK和iNKT细胞以及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.