Project description:The endometrium contains a distinct population of immune cells consisting of 70% natural killer (NK) cells that undergo cyclic changes during the menstrual cycle. However, how these uterine NK (uNK) cells interact with uterine stromal cells (SC) remains unclear. We therefore investigated the paracrine effect of medium conditioned by uNK cells on the gene expression profile of endometrial SC in-vitro using a cDNA Microarray. Our results, verified by real-time PCR and ELISA, reveal that soluble factors from uNK cells substantially alter endometrial SC gene expression. The largest group of up-regulated genes found were chemokines and cytokines, including IL-15 and IL-15Rα. The latter could produce a niche for uNK cells allowing proliferation within and recruitment into the uterus, as seen in bone marrow. In addition, the most abundantly up-regulated genes, including IL-8, CCL8 and CXCL1 have also been shown to be stimulated by contact of SC with trophoblast, suggesting that uNK cells work synergistically to support the initial trophoblast migration during implantation. Overall this study demonstrates for the first time the paracrine communication between uNK cells and uterine SC, and adds to the understanding of how the uterine immune system contributes to the changes seen within the cycling endometrium. Keywords: Response of endometrial stromal cells to uNK conditioned medium This study was designed to identify the response of non-decidualised stromal cells from the endometrium, to soluble factors secreted by uterine NK cells. Endometrial stromal cells were isolated from 7 patients and treated with control medium or medium conditioned by uterine Nk cells. THE 'REF' COLUMN ON EACH ARRAY IS THE SIGNAL PRODUCED BY A COMMON REFERNCE RNA SAMPLE THAT WAS LABELLED AS A SINGLE BATCH SAMPLE AND HYBRIDISED TO ALL THE ARRAYS- IT IS A 'COMMON REFERENCE'. THE 'TEST' SAMPLE COMPRISES EACH INDIVIDUAL SAMPLE OF CELLS TREATED AS DESCRIBED IN THE SERIES SUBMISSION. FOR EXAMPLE; SAMPLE Y1 (gsm2435820) IS RNA FROM PATIENT 1 TREATED WITH CONTROL MEDIUM, SAMPLE G1 (GSM245371) IS RNA FROM PATIENT 1 TREATED WITH NK CONDITIONED MEDIUM THESE TWO SAMPLES THEREFORE FORM A PAIR- IE CELLS FROM THE SAME PATIENT TREATED WITH CONTROL OR NK-CONDITIONED MIDIUM. Y2,G2 ARE FROM PATIENT 2, ETC
Project description:The endometrium contains a distinct population of immune cells consisting of 70% natural killer (NK) cells that undergo cyclic changes during the menstrual cycle. However, how these uterine NK (uNK) cells interact with uterine stromal cells (SC) remains unclear. We therefore investigated the paracrine effect of medium conditioned by uNK cells on the gene expression profile of endometrial SC in-vitro using a cDNA Microarray. Our results, verified by real-time PCR and ELISA, reveal that soluble factors from uNK cells substantially alter endometrial SC gene expression. The largest group of up-regulated genes found were chemokines and cytokines, including IL-15 and IL-15Rα. The latter could produce a niche for uNK cells allowing proliferation within and recruitment into the uterus, as seen in bone marrow. In addition, the most abundantly up-regulated genes, including IL-8, CCL8 and CXCL1 have also been shown to be stimulated by contact of SC with trophoblast, suggesting that uNK cells work synergistically to support the initial trophoblast migration during implantation. Overall this study demonstrates for the first time the paracrine communication between uNK cells and uterine SC, and adds to the understanding of how the uterine immune system contributes to the changes seen within the cycling endometrium. Keywords: Response of endometrial stromal cells to uNK conditioned medium
Project description:MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in regulating immune response of natural killer (NK) cells, a critical effectors against malignancy and infection. Here, miRNAs profiles of goat uterine NK (uNK) cells and peripheral blood NK (pNK) cells were examined, and a novel miRNAs, miR-1, that is lowly expressed in uNK cells compared to pNK cells were identified. We further demonstrated that miR-1 directly target TWEAK gene in NK cells, a negative regulator of NK cell cytotoxicity. Moreover, our data revealed that an increased miR-1 expression was observed in uNK cells incubated with somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) conditioned medium compared to those incubated with in vitro fertilization (IVF) conditioned medium, and an inverse correlation was detected between miR-1 expression and TWEAK mRNA and protein expression in both groups. Interestingly, miR-1 mediated suppression of TWEAK in uNK cells in response to SCNT conditioned medium incubation was accompanied with an increased cytotoxicity and IFN-γ expression compared to control group. Furthermore, miR-1 inhibitor transfection abrogate the enhanced cytotoxicity of uNK cells incubated with SCNT conditioned medium, which was accompanied with an increased TWEAK expression. Taken together, our results demonstrated that TWEAK regulated by miR-1 may play a key role in regulating goat uNK cells cytotoxicity and IFN-γ expression levels. In particularly, miR-1 mediated suppression of TWEAK may involved in the increased cytotoxicity of uNK cells in response to SCNT embryo incubation. These results provide a resource for studying the roles of miRNAs in goat NK cell biology and contribute to a better understanding of the physiologic significance of miRNAs in the regulation of NK cell function.
Project description:RNA-seq data of Naïve T cells treated with decidual cell conditioned medium. Naïve T cells were differentiated into Th17 cells by IL6, TGFB1, and IL23 stimulation, in the presence of either unconditioned (control) or conditioned medium from uterine decidual stromal cells
Project description:Uterine NK cells (uNK) play a role in the regulation of placentation but their functions in non-pregnant endometrium are not understood. We have previously reported suppression of endometrial bleeding and alteration of spiral artery morphology in women exposed to asoprisnil, a progesterone receptor modulator (PRM). We now compare global endometrial gene expression in asoprisnil-treated versus control women and demonstrate a statistically significant reduction of genes in the IL-15 pathway, known to play a key role in uNK development and function. Suppression of IL-15 by asoprisnil was also observed at mRNA level (p<0.05), and immunostaining for NK cell marker CD56 revealed a striking reduction of uNK in asoprisnil-treated endometrium (p<0.001). IL-15 levels in normal endometrium are progesterone-responsive. Progesterone receptor (PR) positive stromal cells transcribe both IL-15 and IL-15RA. Thus, the response of stromal cells to progesterone will be to increase IL-15 trans-presentation to uNK, supporting their expansion and differentiation. In asoprisnil-treated endometrium, there is a marked down-regulation of stromal PR expression and virtual absence of uNK. These novel findings indicate that the IL-15 pathway provides a missing link in the complex interplay between endometrial stromal cells, uNK and spiral arteries affecting physiological and pathological endometrial bleeding. 39 Samples
Project description:Uterine NK cells (uNK) play a role in the regulation of placentation but their functions in non-pregnant endometrium are not understood. We have previously reported suppression of endometrial bleeding and alteration of spiral artery morphology in women exposed to asoprisnil, a progesterone receptor modulator (PRM). We now compare global endometrial gene expression in asoprisnil-treated versus control women and demonstrate a statistically significant reduction of genes in the IL-15 pathway, known to play a key role in uNK development and function. Suppression of IL-15 by asoprisnil was also observed at mRNA level (p<0.05), and immunostaining for NK cell marker CD56 revealed a striking reduction of uNK in asoprisnil-treated endometrium (p<0.001). IL-15 levels in normal endometrium are progesterone-responsive. Progesterone receptor (PR) positive stromal cells transcribe both IL-15 and IL-15RA. Thus, the response of stromal cells to progesterone will be to increase IL-15 trans-presentation to uNK, supporting their expansion and differentiation. In asoprisnil-treated endometrium, there is a marked down-regulation of stromal PR expression and virtual absence of uNK. These novel findings indicate that the IL-15 pathway provides a missing link in the complex interplay between endometrial stromal cells, uNK and spiral arteries affecting physiological and pathological endometrial bleeding.
Project description:Uterine Natural Killer (uNK) cells regulate essential developmental processes at the maternal-fetal interface during early pregnancy. Uterine NK cell functions are tightly regulated during early placentation to stimulate trophoblast invasion and remodel uterine spiral arteries. Access to human 1st and 2nd trimester uterine tissues allowed us to investigate the transcriptional changes in uNK cells during the early stages of early human pregnancy. Microarray analysis identified 97 upregulated genes in 2nd compared to 1st trimester purified uNK cells of which the majority (61%) clustered as interferon-stimulated-genes (ISG), with ISG15 and ISG20 being upregulated profoundly. Type I interferons (IFNα/β), but not type II interferon (IFNɣ) increased expression of the identified interferon target genes ISG15 and ISG20 in uNK cells in vitro. Moreover, the cytokine-like protein ISG15 stimulated in vitro trophoblast invasion. Second trimester uNK cells promoted trophoblast invasion in vitro, whereas both 1st and 2nd trimester uNK cells stimulated endothelial tube formation. IFNα but not IFNβ stimulation of 1st trimester uNK cells enhanced their capacity to promote trophoblast invasion. In conclusion, the uNK cell interferon transcriptome is upregulated during the 2nd trimester allowing uNK cells to promote trophoblast invasion. Type I interferon signaling regulates uNK cell-induced trophoblast invasion via induction of effector molecules like ISG15. First trimester uNK cells can be induced to act like second trimester uNK cells by IFNα with respect to promotion of trophoblast invasion. Key words: Gene expression profiling ■ uterine natural killer cells ■ extravillous trophoblast invasion ■ interferon alpha ■ ISG15
Project description:In this study, we characterize the fusion protein produced by the EPC1-PHF1 translocation in Low Grade Endometrial Stromal Sarcoma (LG-ESS) and Ossifying FibroMyxoid Tumors (OFMT). We express the fusion protein and necessary controls in K562 Cells. The fusion protein assembles a mega-complex harboring both NuA4/TIP60 and PRC2 subunits and enzymatic activities and leads to mislocalization of chromatin marks in the genome, linked to aberrant gene expression.
Project description:Uterine NK cells (uNK cells) form a distinct immune cell population in the endometrium and decidua. Here, we FACS-sorted KIR-CD39-,KIR+CD39- and KIR+CD39+ uNK cells from decidual samples.
Project description:In this study, we characterize the fusion protein produced by the EPC1-PHF1 translocation in Low Grade Endometrial Stromal Sarcoma (LG-ESS) and Ossifying FibroMyxoid Tumors (OFMT). We express the fusion protein and necessary controls in K562 Cells. The fusion protein assembles a mega-complex harboring both NuA4/TIP60 and PRC2 subunits and enzymatic activities and leads to mislocalization of chromatin marks in the genome, linked to aberrant gene expression.