Update on pathways regulating the activation of uterine Natural Killer cells, their interactions with decidual spiral arteries and homing of their precursors to the uterus

Virgin adult C57Bl/6J mouse uterus contains a population of small, non-granulated Natural Killer (NK) cells with balanced expression of NK cell activating and inhibiting LY49 receptors. Coincident with blastocyst implantation and decidualization, uterine (u)NK cells become activated. The surface glycoslyation of uNK changes, the cells proliferate and they induce production of interferon (IFN)gamma, perforin, serine esterases and other …