Vlatka Sotošek

Progesterone directly and indirectly affects perforin expression in cytolytic cells

Laskarin G, Faust Zs, Štrbo N, SotoŠek V, Szekeres‐Bartho J, Podack ER, Rukavina D. Progesterone directly and indirectly affects perforin expression in cytolytic cells. AJRI 1999; 42:312–320

Decidual Macrophages Are the Population of Decidual Adherent Cells Which Regulates Perforin Expression in Cytolytic Cells

PROBLEM: We have shown that addition of decidual adherent cells (DAC) to the culture of decidual lymphocytes (DL) prevents the downregulation of perforin expression in these cells. Because DAC are a mixture of various cell populations, the aim is to analyze immunophenotypic characteristics of DAC and to determine which cell population is involved in the regulation of perforin expression.

Modulation of Perforin Expression in the Decidual and Peripheral Blood Cytotoxic Lymphocytes in Culture

PROBLEM: Perforin (P) is a cytolytic molecule located in intracellular granules of cytotoxic lymphocytes both in the peripheral blood and decidua of pregnancy. The aim was to analyze the kinetics of P expression during in vitro culture and modulation of P expression by adherent cells, their supernatants and mitogen (PHA) stimulation.

Immunobiology of reproduction: Role of uniquely abundant NK cells in the placenta

Human fetus is a natural allograft which survives much longer than any other allograft in an immunologically competent recipient. Namely, semiallogenic trophoblast cells of foetal origin are in intimate contact with mothers decidual mucosa that is abundantly infiltrated by immunocompetent cells. Macrophages are important cytokine producing cells and their number does not change during pregnancy. T lymphocytes are scattered throughout human decidua representing approximately 10-15% of decidual lymphocytes (DL). Decidual large granulated lymphocytes (dLGL) account for about 80% of the total leukocyte population and cause an increase in CD56/CD3 cell ratio to more than 5. Decidual LGL distinct from peripheral blood NK cells. They are CD3-CD16-CD56bright+ with high content of cytolytic mediator-perforin in their granules. The percentage of P+ cells in the suspension of DL is twice higher peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from the same women (55% vs. 27%). However, NK activity of DL is much much lower than NK activity of PBL in spite of the fact that they are full of perforin. The question could be raised as to when and how these cells can be activated? NK cell activity is regulated via signals that are transmitted through killer inhibitory receptor (KIR) and killer activity receptors (KAR). Expression of KIR and absence of CD16 molecules on dLGL are potential mechanism for preventing lysis of trophoblast during normal pregnancy.