ISSN:
1420-9071
Keywords:
Uterine NK cells
;
murine pregnancy
;
colony-stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1)
;
NK cell differentiation
;
osteopetrosis
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract A population of uterine natural killer (NK) cells, commonly called granulated metrial gland (GMG) cells, differentiates in the mouse uterus during normal pregnancy. Little is known regarding the process of differentiation of GMG cells or of other NK cell subsets. It has been suggested that macrophage precursors, under the combined influences of the cytokine growth factors colony stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1) and interleukin-2, become NK-cell like in morphology, pattern of target cell lysis and surface antigen phenotype. Mice expressing the mutation osteopetrosis (op/op) are unable to produce the cytokine CSF-1. To determine whether CSF-1 is required for the successful differentiation of uterine NK cells, implantation sites in pregnant,op/op mice were studied histologically. GMG cell differentiation appeared to progress normally inop/op mice studied between days 7 and 14 of gestation. Thus, the growth factor CSF-1 is not required for differentiation of the uterine NK cell subset known as GMG cells and probably GMG cells do not differentiate from macrophage precursor cells which are deficient inop/op mice.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01919144
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