Viganó P, Pardi R, Magri B, Busacca M, Di Blasio A M, Vignali M
II Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinica L. Mangiagalli, University of Milano, Italy.
Am J Reprod Immunol. 1994 Oct;32(3):139-45. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0897.1994.tb01104.x.
Recent evidence emphasizes the role of natural killer cells (NKs) as potential effectors of peritoneal immune surveillance directed against the outgrowth of endometrial cells, refluxed with menstrual debris, in ectopic sites. This NK-mediated cytotoxicity toward autologous endometrial antigens seems to be significantly decreased in endometriosis patients.
We set up experiments to clarify which molecules are involved in NK-endometrial cell interaction. In particular, we evaluated the surface expression and functional activity of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), a cell surface glycoprotein that has been identified as one of the ligands for lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1), present on almost all leucocyte cell types. Immunofluorescence flow cytometry was used to assess ICAM-1 expression on resting and IL 1 beta-activated endometrial stromal cells in culture. Dermal fibroblasts were used as control cells. Cytotoxicity and binding assays by 51Cr release in presence and absence of a specific monoclonal antibody (mAb) against ICAM-1 were then performed in order to determine the effect of this molecule on NK-mediated cytotoxic and binding activity toward endometrial stromal cells.
The results of this study indicated that ICAM-1 expression on endometrial stromal cells seems to be constitutively higher than on dermal fibroblasts and can be up-regulated upon exposure to IL 1 beta. Furthermore, a mAb against ICAM-1 strongly inhibits the binding but not the cytotoxicity of NKs toward endometrial cells. No difference in the expression of this molecule was observed throughout the cycle.
The presence of ICAM-1 on human endometrium might relate to the action of the immunocompetent cells in human specific reproductive events.
最近的证据强调了自然杀伤细胞（NK细胞）作为腹膜免疫监视潜在效应器的作用，该免疫监视针对异位部位因月经碎片逆流而出现的子宫内膜细胞生长。在子宫内膜异位症患者中，这种NK细胞介导的针对自体子宫内膜抗原的细胞毒性似乎显著降低。
我们开展实验以阐明哪些分子参与NK细胞与子宫内膜细胞的相互作用。特别是，我们评估了细胞间黏附分子-1（ICAM-1）的表面表达和功能活性，ICAM-1是一种细胞表面糖蛋白，已被确定为几乎所有白细胞类型上存在的淋巴细胞功能相关抗原-1（LFA-1）的配体之一。免疫荧光流式细胞术用于评估培养中静止和经白细胞介素1β激活的子宫内膜基质细胞上ICAM-1的表达。皮肤成纤维细胞用作对照细胞。然后在有和没有针对ICAM-1的特异性单克隆抗体（mAb）的情况下，通过51Cr释放进行细胞毒性和结合试验，以确定该分子对NK细胞介导的针对子宫内膜基质细胞的细胞毒性和结合活性的影响。
本研究结果表明，子宫内膜基质细胞上ICAM-1的表达似乎在组成上高于皮肤成纤维细胞，并且在暴露于白细胞介素1β后可上调。此外，针对ICAM-1的单克隆抗体强烈抑制NK细胞与子宫内膜细胞的结合，但不抑制其细胞毒性。在整个月经周期中未观察到该分子表达的差异。
人子宫内膜上ICAM-1的存在可能与人特异性生殖事件中免疫活性细胞的作用有关。
