Cell death of uterine natural killer cells in murine placenta during placentation and preterm periods

In the murine uterus granulated metrial gland (GMG) cells appear only during normal pregnancy. GMG cells belong to a member of natural killer (NK) cells and play an important role in fetus survival and placental growth. Our previous study revealed that mouse GMG/uterine NK (uNK) cells in the late pregnancy rapidly disappear from the uterus, due to the degenerative change classified as necrosis. But there are few reports regarding appearance and morphology of uNK cells during late pregnancy. We examined histologically and histochemically how and when uNK cells undergo cell death. The uNK cells in the metrial gland increased in number and reached maximum until day 12 of pregnancy. Sudden disappearance, however, occurred after day 15 and the granules reduced in both number and size. In situ DNA fragmentation detection revealed that DNA fragmented uNK cells increased in number during days 13 to 15 and reached 70.2% at day 15 of pregnancy. From days 13 to 17, uNK cells were positive against anti-perforin antibody. Ultrastructurally, uNK cells at day 15 showed poor organelles and unusual granules in structure. In uNK cells at day 17, condensation of nucleus chromatin, reduction in size and phagocytosis into other uNK cells were observed. These results suggested that uNK cells undergo at least two types of cell death, classified as necrosis and apoptosis, at the different stages of pregnancy, and that perforin is not a mediator for cell death.     

Differentiation and elimination of uterine natural killer cells in delayed implantation and parturition mice

To clarify the roles of uterine natural killer (uNK) cells in implantation and parturition, differentiation and elimination of uNK cells in the pregnant uterus was examined using artificial delayed implantation (DI) and delayed parturition (DP) mice. To prepare DI mice, pregnant mice were ovariectomized on the third day of pregnancy (D3) and treated with 2 mg progesterone daily. The same amount of progesterone was administered on D15 or D17 of normal pregnant mice at 24 h intervals until sampling to prepare DP mice. The uNK cells contained PAS-positive granules on D8 in DI mice. The uNK cells in DI mice were smaller in size, and differentiation of these cells was delayed compared to those of the control mice. From D19 to D21 in DP mice, the metrial gland was well developed and uNK cells were present. The number of uNK cell granules decreased on D21, and there were no uNK cells in the normal pregnant mice. This result suggests that differentiation of uNK cells is not directly related to implantation, but elimination of these cells is closely involved in parturition.     

Uterine NK cells produce epidermal growth factor in the murine pregnant uterus.

Uterine natural killer (uNK) cells belong to the large granular lymphocytes in the murine pregnant uterus and play essential roles in pregnancy success. We defined whether uNK cells can produce epidermal growth factor (EGF) important for implantation and embryo growth. The uNK cells were immunohistochemically positive for anti-EGF antibody especially during days 6 to 9 and at day 15 of pregnancy. Immunoreaction for EGF receptor was observed on the stromal cells in the metrial gland and trophoblasts in the placental labyrinth. EGF secretion (72.1 +/- 2.25 ng/10(40 cells) was noted in cultured uNK cells isolated from the metrial gland at day 15 of pregnancy. Treatment of anti-asialo-GM I antibody raised the level of EGF (129 +/- 21.5 ng/10(4) cells). These results suggest uNK cell can produce and release EGF for placental development.     

Ultrastructural study of uterine natural killer cells found in pregnant, interleukin-2 receptor beta-chain overexpressed transgenic mice

We previously reported that all fetuses died or were resorbed on day 12 of pregnancy (Day 1= the day of plug) in interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor beta-chain overexpressed transgenic (Tg2Rbeta) mice. In this study, to clarify the role of uterine natural killer (uNK) cells in pregnancy, the ultrastructure of Tg2Rbeta mouse uNK cells was analyzed using a transmission electron microscope. uNK cells and their granules on day 10 of pregnancy were larger in Tg2Rbeta mice than control mice, indicating that differentiation of uNK cells in Tg2Rbeta mice progressed rapidly. Additionally, the granules of uNK cells in Tg2Rbeta mice on day 10 of pregnancy had an irregular morphology. The multivesicular regions were present in the cap structure of these granules, suggesting that the uNK cells of the Tg2Rbeta mice had cytotoxic activity.     

A study of reproductive performance in pregnant, IL-2 receptor beta-chain overexpressed transgenic mice

Relationships between female reproductive performance and uterine natural killer (uNK) cells were investigated in pregnant IL-2 receptor beta-chain overexpressed transgenic (Tg2Rbeta) mice. At 8 days of pregnancy, all fetuses were alive, suggesting that implantation normally occurred in these mice. However, 47% of fetuses were dead at 10 days of pregnancy and at 12 days all fetuses were resorbing, indicating that fetal loss progressed with the advance of pregnancy. The placenta of Tg2Rbeta mice gradually decreased in weight with the advance of pregnancy. At 10 days the placental labyrinth, decidua basalis, and metrial gland in Tg2Rbeta mice were poorly developed, and more uNK cells were found in Tg2Rbeta mice than in the control mice. We propose that Tg2RPbeta mice are the first and interesting model that uNK cells can cause abortion, to clarify the involvement of uNK cell function in female reproductive performance.     

Differentiation of uterine natural killer cells in pregnant SCID (scid/scid) mice

To determine whether functional T- and B-cells can affect differentiation and/or proliferation of uterine natural killer (uNK) cells, their numbers in SCID mice (genotype, C.B.-17/Icr-scid/scid) were compared with those of control mice (genotype, C.B.-17/Icr-+/+) on days 8, 12 and 16 of pregnancy. Using biotinylated-Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA) lectin staining, uNK cells can be readily classified into 4 subtypes, I to IV, from immature to mature types. The number of uNK cells was significantly lower in the decidua basalis of SCID mice than in that of control mice on day 8 of pregnancy. Particularly, the number of uNK cells of immature subtype II was significantly lower in SCID mice than in the control mice. By day 12, however, the uNK cell number in the SCID mice reached the same level as that of the control mice. It is likely that uNK cell differentiation in SCID mice was delayed during the early placentation period due to a lack of functional T and B cells.     

精子膜抗原SA-30免疫对小鼠子宫内肥大细胞的影响

用牛精子膜抗原SA 30免疫雌性昆明系小鼠 ,取小鼠子宫做常规石蜡切片 ,甲苯胺蓝染色检测子宫内的肥大细胞。结果表明 ,所有肥大细胞均位于子宫肌层 ,间情期时 ,SA 30免疫组和对照组子宫内肥大细胞在数量上无明显差别 (P >0 0 5 ) ;而妊娠第 3天的小鼠子宫中 ,SA 30免疫后肥大细胞显著增多 (P <0 0 5 )。提示SA 30免疫可能诱导妊娠早期小鼠子宫内的细胞免疫反应 ,从而导致生育力的下降。     

小鼠子宫壁内自然杀伤细胞和T细胞亚群与自发性胚胎丢失相关性研究

免疫组化研究显示，小鼠妊娠早期子宫壁内CD57^ 细胞数量由孕0天时16.3增至孕2天时62.3,孕4天时已下降，孕6天时降至9.7，而发生胚胎丢失的个体孕6天和孕8天时细胞数量均维持较多，约是孕0天时的4倍。CD4^ 细胞在妊娠后数量由孕0天时29.7增至孕4天时65.6，孕6天时降至7.2，发生胚胎丢失的个体孕6天及孕8天时数量均较多，约为孕0天时的6倍。CD8^ 细胞妊娠后数量由孕0天时39.8增至孕2天时185.0，孕4天时已下降，孕6天时降至3.6，而发生胚胎丢失的个体孕6天和孕8天时细胞数量均维持较多，约是孕0天时的3倍。研究结果提示小鼠妊娠早期子宫壁内CD57^ 细胞、CD4^ 细胞和CD8^ 细胞数量在胚胎着床前均出现先增后减的波动，早期胚胎丢失与孕6天及孕8天时子宫壁内所含大量CD57^ 细胞、CD4^ 细胞和CD8^ 细胞之间存在相关。     

Biological potentials for a family of disintegrin and metalloproteinase (ADAMDEC)-1 in mouse normal pregnancy

Our previous research has indicated local expression of ADAMDEC-1, a family of disintegrin and metalloproteinase, was confirmed in the mouse placentas and enhancement was found in the sites for spontaneous abortion. Present study was aimed to identify biological effects of ADAMDEC-1 in pregnancy process. Syngeneic pairs of C57BL/6J mice and heterogenic mating pairs of CBA/J and DBA/2 mice were used. Pregnant mice were treated with recombinant ADAMDEC-1 protein. Vasculogenesis effects was evaluated using the Matrigel plugs including vascular endothelial growth factor singularity or combination with ADAMDEC-1. ADAMDEC-1 single effects were evaluated by tubal formation and proliferation assays using HuEht-1 endothelial cells. Expression of ADAMDEC-1 was not exactly corresponded with the time periods for miscarriage initiation. ADAMDEC-1 was distributed in normal placentas and fetuses, especially at extraembryonic ectoderm, decidua cells, uterine natural killer (uNK) cells in decidua, trophoblasts in labyrinthine zone, and hematopoietic cells in umbilical blood and fetal liver. ADAMDEC-1 treatment did not affect reproductive performances, while it elevated uNK cell recruitment in placenta and enlarged lumen sizes of the intraplacental vessels. In vitro analysis also indicated ADAMDEC-1 promoting effect on tubal formation and cell length of HuEht-1. qPCR analysis showed that ADAMDEC-1 modified placental gene expression especially for linkage of actin filament rearrangement. Our findings suggested that ADAMDEC-1 is correlated on cell shape, stability, and movement via modification of actin cytoskeleton. ADMADEC-1 suspected to regulate cellular activity of endothelial cells, trophoblasts, and uNK cells and may support normal developing of mouse placentas.     

Expression of Oestrogen Receptor α and Oestrogen Receptor β in the Uterus of the Pregnant Swine

The uterus is a well‐known target of endocrine, paracrine and autocrine acting molecules among which steroid hormones are of special importance. The objective of our work was to localize oestrogen receptors (ERα and ERβ) mRNA and protein in the pig uterus throughout pregnancy (10, 18, 32, 50, 71, 90 days post coitum) using RT‐PCR, Western‐blot and immunohistochemistry. The present study is the first one to demonstrate the presence of ERs protein in the porcine uterus not only at the beginning but also at mid‐ and late pregnancy. In the pregnant swine, ERα was immunolocalized in the luminal epithelium (LE) and glandular epithelium (GE) and the myometrium of the uterus with differences in the intensity of staining at different stages of pregnancy studied. The LE and GE of pregnant swine stained for ERβ regardless of the day of pregnancy examined, whereas only a few cells within the myometrium showed a weak immunoreactivity. Western blot analysis confirmed the presence of ERα and ERβ proteins on all investigated days of gestation. The expression of ERα and ERβ mRNA was detected by RT‐PCR in all examined samples corresponding to each of the consecutive stages of pregnancy. The obtained results show that ERα is more abundant in comparison to ERβ within the porcine pregnant uterus. The presence of ERα and ERβ in all compartments of the pig uterus during pregnancy may indicate direct action of oestrogens on proliferation and differentiation of these cells.     

Allelic loss analysis of lymphomas induced in Fas-heterozygous deficient mice

Mutations of Fas (CD95/Apo-1) gene have been reported in various malignancies and therefore the Fas gene has been considered to be a tumor suppressor gene. To examine an involvement of Fas gene as a tumor suppressor gene in radiation lymphomagenesis, we examined the loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in lymphomas from (MSM/Ms x MRL-MpJ/Fas (lpr)) F(1) and (BALB/cHeA x MRL-MpJ/Fas (lpr)) F(1) hybrid mice. Lymphoma development by X-irradiation was efficiently observed in both F(1) hybrids. Frequent LOH was found on chromosomes 12 and 4 in the tumors from both F(1) mice, but no allelic loss on chromosome 19 containing Fas locus was found, and no wild-type allele of the Fas gene was lost in 51 lymphomas. Therefore, the putative tumor-suppressor gene regions responsible for lymphomagenesis might not considerably differ due to the Fas gene status.     

瘦素及其长型瘦素受体在雌性小鼠体内的表达

采用免疫组织化学SP染色法对长型瘦素受体在雌性小鼠生殖周期不同阶段的下丘脑、卵巢、子宫中细胞定位和分布进行了研究,并用ELISA方法对小鼠血清中的瘦素浓度进行了检测。结果显示,下丘脑神经元胞质中有棕褐色阳性颗粒,且阳性细胞数量随妊娠日龄增加逐渐增加,妊娠期与间情期阳性细胞数差异显著(P0.05);在卵巢中,卵母细胞胞质中有长型瘦素受体表达,随卵泡的发育,卵泡细胞中免疫反应阳性细胞数量逐渐增加;在胚泡附植期,瘦素受体在子宫腺和子宫内膜上皮细胞中大量表达。妊娠期血清瘦素浓度均高于间情期,且瘦素浓度从间情期到妊娠4日龄,呈上升趋势,妊娠5日龄稍下降,后随妊娠日龄逐渐增加。结果表明,瘦素及其长型受体能够促进卵泡发育,有利于小鼠胚泡的附植。     

Corticosterone induced apoptosis of mouse oviduct epithelial cells independent of the TNF-α system

It has been reported in recent studies that restraint stress on pregnant mice during the preimplantation stage elevated corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) and glucocorticoid levels in the serum and oviducts; furthermore, CRH and corticosterone (CORT) impacted preimplantation embryos indirectly by triggering the apoptosis of oviductal epithelial cells (OECs) through activation of the Fas system. However, it remains unclear whether TNF-α signaling is involved in CRH- and/or glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis of OECs. In the present study, it was shown that culture with either CRH or CORT induced significant apoptosis of OECs. The culture of OECs with CRH augmented both FasL expression and TNF-α expression. However, culture with CORT increased FasL, but decreased TNF-α, expression significantly. Although knocking down/knocking out FasL expression in OECs significantly ameliorated the proapoptotic effects of both CRH and CORT, knocking down/knocking out TNF-α expression relieved only the proapoptotic effect of CRH but not that of CORT. Taken together, our results demonstrated that CRH-induced OEC apoptosis involved both Fas signaling and TNF-α signaling. Conversely, CORT-induced OEC apoptosis involved only the Fas, but not the TNF-α, signaling pathway. The data obtained are crucial for our understanding of the mechanisms by which various categories of stress imposed on pregnant females impair embryo development, as well as for the development of measures to protect the embryo from the adverse effects of stress.     

圆弧青霉菌毒素—青霉酸对小鼠脾脏组织细胞凋亡和Bcl-2、Bax及Fas/FasL基因mRNA表达的影响

为探讨圆弧青霉菌毒素—青霉酸对小鼠脾脏组织的毒性作用,采用TUNEL法和RT-PCR对染毒后脾脏细胞凋亡和Bcl-2、Bax及Fas/FasL等凋亡相关基因mRNA表达的影响进行研究。结果表明,随着青霉酸染毒剂量的增加,脾脏组织中细胞凋亡数量逐渐增多。染青霉酸低剂量组脾脏组织中Bcl-2、Fas和FasL的表达增加,Bax表达下降,高剂量组和中剂量组中Bax、Fas和FasL表达增加,Bcl-2表达下降,说明青霉酸可能通过促使Bax、Fas/FasL表达增加和Bcl-2表达降低来诱导小鼠脾脏细胞的凋亡。     

Steroid hormone-regulated let-7b mediates cell proliferation and basigin expression in the mouse endometrium

Let-7b, one of the let-7 family members, was studied for its regulative role in endometrial cells during early pregnancy in mice. According to real-time RT-PCR analysis, the expression of let-7b in epithelial cells increased gradually from day 1 to day 4 of preimplantation stages and reached the highest level on day 4. On the other hand, the highest level of let-7b in stromal cells was observed on day 1, although the expression was decreased on day 2 and increased significantly on day 4. By in situ hybridization, let-7b was also found to express in uteri during days 6-8 of pregnancy. Endometrial cells isolated from prepubertal mice were treated with steroid hormones, progesterone (P4), estradiol (E2) and P4 plus E2. After 96 h of culture in the presence of steroid hormones, the expression levels of let-7b were increased in the endometrial cells, although significant differences were only observed after P4 treatment in stromal cells and after individual E2 and P4 treatments in the epithelial cells. In association with the increased let-7b expression, the cell proliferation slope, measured by a MTT assay, significantly decreased in the presence of P4 and P4 plus E2 compared with the nonhormone and E2 treatment groups during 72-108 h of culture. Furthermore, results from transfection of let-7b into stromal cells isolated from day 4 pregnant mice or prepubertal mice demonstrated that let-7b attenuated the proliferation during the periods of time examined. After transfection of let-7b into mouse stromal cells isolated from day 7 of pregnancy, the expression of Basigin (Bsg), a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inducer, was suppressed, as well as that of MMP-9. In conclusion, this study clarifies the expression pattern of let-7b in uterine epithelial and stromal cells during preimplantation stages in mice, as well as the inhibitory effect of let-7b associated with steroid hormones on stromal cell proliferation and on the expression of MMP-9.     

Lectin histochemistry for sugars on the mucosal surface of the uterus in pregnant mice

Expression patterns of sugars on the mucosal surface of the uterus in pregnant mice were investigated by using 21 kinds of lectins. In the uterine mucosa, the GlcNAc group tended to express a positive reaction before pregnant day 10, but the glucose/mannose group generally expressed a positive reaction after pregnant day 10. On the other hand, the fucose group expressed a negative reaction during all periods in pregnancy. These findings were almost the same on both the mesometrial side and anti-mesometrial side of the uterus. These differences of sugar expression probably reflect the functional change of the mucosa during pregnancy and the alteration of sugar expression may give a chance for pathogens to infect in the uterus with limited periods.     

Fas/FasL通路对镉激活PC12细胞MAPK通路的影响

旨在研究Fas/FasL通路对镉激活PC12细胞MAPK通路的影响,用10 μmol L^-1醋酸镉（CdAc₂）分别处理插入非特异性序列PC12细胞与Fas基因沉默PC12细胞12 h;用10 μmol·L^-1CdAc₂与40 μmol·L^-1 Z-IETD-FMK （caspase-8特异性抑制剂）单独或联合处理PC12细胞12 h。通过Western blot检测Fas/FasL通路相关蛋白Fas、FasL、Fas相关死亡域蛋白（FADD）、Cleaved caspase-8、死亡结构域相关蛋白（Daxx）、凋亡信号调节激酶1（ASK1）的表达与MAPK通路相关蛋白ERK1/2、JNK1/2、p-ERK1/2、p-JNK1/2的表达;Hoechst33258荧光染色检测细胞凋亡形态学变化,流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡率。结果显示,Fas shRNA慢病毒极显著抑制镉引起的PC12细胞Fas/FasL通路相关蛋白表达量和凋亡率的升高（P<0.01）,缓解镉引起的PC12细胞凋亡形态学变化;Fas shRNA与Z-IETD-FMK均能够极显著抑制镉引起的PC12细胞MAPK通路相关蛋白ERK1/2与JNK1/2磷酸化水平升高（P<0.01）。综上表明,Fas/FasL通路调控MAPK通路参与镉致PC12细胞凋亡。