Cytotoxic Activity of Peripheral Blood NK Cells towards Trophoblast Cells during Pregnancy

Abstract

We evaluated cytotoxic activity of peripheral blood NK cells towards trophoblast cells. NK cells either isolated or in the composition of mononuclear cell fraction, caused death of trophoblast cells. In women with physiological pregnancy, the cytotoxic effect of NK cells present in mononuclear cell fraction preincubated with IL-2 was lower than in nonpregnant women, who had never been pregnant previously, and in fertile women. Cytotoxic activity of isolated NK cells preincubated with IL-2 in fertile women was lower than in nonpregnant women, who had never been pregnant previously.