Lectin histochemical analysis of uterine natural killer cells in normal, hydatidiform molar and invasive molar pregnancy

Zhong,Ting; Xie,Xingxing; Zong,Teng; Yu,Xiaochun; Ling,Yan; Kuang,Haibin

doi:10.3892/ol.2018.9465

Lectin histochemical analysis of uterine natural killer cells in normal, hydatidiform molar and invasive molar pregnancy

Authors:
- Ting Zhong
- Xingxing Xie
- Teng Zong
- Xiaochun Yu
- Yan Ling
- Haibin Kuang
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Affiliations: Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Reproductive Physiology and Pathology, Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jiangxi Province People's Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
Published online on: September 20, 2018 https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2018.9465
Pages: 6458-6464
Copyright: © Zhong et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Uterine natural killer (uNK) cells have been hypothesized to serve a role in controlling trophoblast invasion and proliferation. The aim of the present study was to identify the distribution and number of uNK cells in normal pregnancy (NP), partial mole (PM), complete mole (CM) and invasive mole (IM). uNK cells were detected using dolichos biflorus agglutinin lectin immunohistochemistry in decidual and villous tissues from early NP (n=15), late NP (n=15), PM (n=22), CM (n=20) and IM (n=10). A scaled eye piece was used for cell counting to obtain semi‑quantitative results. It was revealed that uNK cells were mainly located in the uterine deciduas of early NP. As pregnancy progressed, the number of decidual uNK cells significantly decreased. Decidual uNK cells of PM, CM and IM were located near blood vessel endothelial cells. No significant differences were detected with respect to the numbers of decidual uNK between early NP and PM. However, the number of decidual uNK cells was significantly reduced in CM and IM compared with early NP. The populations of decidual uNK cells were not significantly different between CM and IM. No uNK cells were detected in the villi of PM, CM or IM. The decrease of decidual uNK cells in late NP, CP and IM, compared with early NP, suggested that uNK cells served an important role in controlling trophoblast invasion and proliferation.

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