Human-Induced CD49a+ NK Cells Promote Fetal Growth

Xianghui Du; Xianghui Du; Xianghui Du; Huaiping Zhu; Defeng Jiao; Defeng Jiao; Zhigang Nian; Zhigang Nian; Jinghe Zhang; Jinghe Zhang; Jinghe Zhang; Yonggang Zhou; Yonggang Zhou; Yonggang Zhou; Xiaohu Zheng; Xiaohu Zheng; Xianhong Tong; Haiming Wei; Haiming Wei; Haiming Wei; Binqing Fu; Binqing Fu; Binqing Fu

doi:10.3389/fimmu.2022.821542

Frontiers in Immunology (Feb 2022)

Human-Induced CD49a+ NK Cells Promote Fetal Growth

Xianghui Du,
Xianghui Du,
Xianghui Du,
Huaiping Zhu,
Defeng Jiao,
Defeng Jiao,
Zhigang Nian,
Zhigang Nian,
Jinghe Zhang,
Jinghe Zhang,
Jinghe Zhang,
Yonggang Zhou,
Yonggang Zhou,
Yonggang Zhou,
Xiaohu Zheng,
Xiaohu Zheng,
Xianhong Tong,
Haiming Wei,
Haiming Wei,
Haiming Wei,
Binqing Fu,
Binqing Fu,
Binqing Fu

Affiliations

Xianghui Du: The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
Xianghui Du: The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
Xianghui Du: Institute of Immunology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
Huaiping Zhu: The Section of Experimental Hematology, First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
Defeng Jiao: The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
Defeng Jiao: Institute of Immunology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
Zhigang Nian: The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
Zhigang Nian: Institute of Immunology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
Jinghe Zhang: The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
Jinghe Zhang: The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
Jinghe Zhang: Institute of Immunology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
Yonggang Zhou: The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
Yonggang Zhou: The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
Yonggang Zhou: Institute of Immunology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
Xiaohu Zheng: The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
Xiaohu Zheng: Institute of Immunology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
Xianhong Tong: The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
Haiming Wei: The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
Haiming Wei: The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
Haiming Wei: Institute of Immunology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
Binqing Fu: The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
Binqing Fu: The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
Binqing Fu: Institute of Immunology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2022.821542
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 13

Abstract

Read online

CD49a+ natural killer (NK) cells play a critical role in promoting fetal development and maintaining immune tolerance at the maternal-fetal interface during the early stages of pregnancy. However, given their residency in human tissue, thorough studies and clinical applications are difficult to perform. It is still unclear as to how functional human CD49a+ NK cells can be induced to benefit pregnancy outcomes. In this study, we established three no-feeder cell induction systems to induce human CD49a+ NK cells from umbilical cord blood hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), bone marrow HSCs, and peripheral blood NK cells in vitro. These induced NK cells (iNKs) from three cell induction systems display high levels of CD49a, CD9, CD39, CD151 expression, low levels of CD16 expression, and no obvious cytotoxic capability. They are phenotypically and functionally similar to decidual NK cells. Furthermore, these iNKs display a high expression of growth-promoting factors and proangiogenic factors and can promote fetal growth and improve uterine artery blood flow in a murine pregnancy model in vivo. This research demonstrates the ability of human-induced CD49a+ NK cells to promote fetal growth via three cell induction systems, which could eventually be used to treat patients experiencing adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Published in Frontiers in Immunology

ISSN: 1664-3224 (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Specialties of internal medicine: Immunologic diseases. Allergy
Website: http://journal.frontiersin.org/journal/immunology

About the journal

Abstract

Keywords