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Analysis of uterine gene expression in interleukin-15 knockout mice reveals uterine natural killer cells do not play a major role in decidualization and associated angiogenesis.

ABSTRACT: During decidualization, uterine natural killer (uNK) cells are the most abundant immune cell types found in the uterus. Although it is well known that they play key roles in spiral arteriole modification and the maintenance of decidual integrity seen after mid-pregnancy, their roles in the differentiation of decidual cells and accompanying angiogenesis during the process of decidualization is less well characterized. To address this, we used whole-genome Illumina BeadChip analysis to compare the gene expression profiles in implantation segments of the uterus during decidualization on day 7.5 of pregnancy between wild-type and uNK cell-deficient (interleukin-15-knockout) mice. We found almost 300 differentially expressed genes and verified the differential expression of ~60 using quantitative RT-PCR. Notably, there was a lack of differential expression of genes involved in decidualization and angiogenesis and this was also verified by quantitative RT-PCR. Similar endothelial cell densities and proliferation indices were also found in the endometrium between the implantation site tissues of wild-type and knockout mice undergoing decidualization. Overall, the results of this study reveal that uNK cells likely do not play a major role in decidualization and accompanying angiogenesis during implantation. In addition, the study identifies a large number of genes whose expression in implantation-site uterine tissue during decidualization depends on interleukin-15 expression in mice.

SUBMITTER: Bany BM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3307949 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Analysis of uterine gene expression in interleukin-15 knockout mice reveals uterine natural killer cells do not play a major role in decidualization and associated angiogenesis.

Bany Brent M BM Scott Charles A CA Eckstrum Kirsten S KS

Reproduction (Cambridge, England) 20111220 3

During decidualization, uterine natural killer (uNK) cells are the most abundant immune cell types found in the uterus. Although it is well known that they play key roles in spiral arteriole modification and the maintenance of decidual integrity seen after mid-pregnancy, their roles in the differentiation of decidual cells and accompanying angiogenesis during the process of decidualization is less well characterized. To address this, we used whole-genome Illumina BeadChip analysis to compare the ...[more]

PMID: 22187674

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Project description:Natural killer (NK) cells belong to the first line of host defense against infection and cancer. Cytokines, including interleukin-15 (IL-15), critically regulate NK cell activity, resulting in recognition and direct killing of transformed and infected target cells. NK cells have to adapt and respond in inflamed and often hypoxic areas. Cellular stabilization and accumulation of the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor-1? (HIF-1?) is a key mechanism of the cellular hypoxia response. At the same time, HIF-1? plays a critical role in both innate and adaptive immunity. While the HIF-1? hydroxylation and degradation pathway has been recently described with the help of mathematical methods, less is known concerning the mechanistic mathematical description of processes regulating the levels of HIF-1? mRNA and protein. In this work we combine mathematical modeling with experimental laboratory analysis and examine the dynamic relationship between HIF-1? mRNA, HIF-1? protein, and IL-15-mediated upstream signaling events in NK cells from human blood. We propose a system of non-linear ordinary differential equations with positive and negative feedback loops for describing the complex interplay of HIF-1? regulators. The experimental design is optimized with the help of mathematical methods, and numerical optimization techniques yield reliable parameter estimates. The mathematical model allows for the investigation and prediction of HIF-1? stabilization under different inflammatory conditions and provides a better understanding of mechanisms mediating cellular enrichment of HIF-1?. Thanks to the combination of in vitro experimental data and in silico predictions we identified the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), the nuclear factor-?B (NF-?B), and the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) as central regulators of HIF-1? accumulation. We hypothesize that the regulatory pathway proposed here for NK cells can be extended to other types of immune cells. Understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in the dynamic regulation of the HIF-1? pathway in immune cells is of central importance to the immune cell function and could be a promising strategy in the design of treatments for human inflammatory diseases and cancer.

Dataset Information

Analysis of uterine gene expression in interleukin-15 knockout mice reveals uterine natural killer cells do not play a major role in decidualization and associated angiogenesis.

Publications

Analysis of uterine gene expression in interleukin-15 knockout mice reveals uterine natural killer cells do not play a major role in decidualization and associated angiogenesis.

Similar Datasets

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