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Importance of Natural Killer Cells
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Importance of Natural Killer Cells

26 September 2011
|In FAQ
|By Gülden Halis

September 26, 2011

About the importance of natural killer cells (NK)

 

It has been suspected for some time that immunological factors and mechanisms play a role in women with habitual abortion (more than 3 miscarriages), infertility and implantation failure (embryo implantation failure). NK cells, which are found both in the periphery and in the uterus, are part of the immune system. NK cells in the blood (pNK) have cytotoxic, antiviral and antineoplastic properties. Uterine NK cells (uNK) influence cytokine production, which is believed to play a crucial role in implantation.

In a recently published review, the importance of natural killer cells (NK) in the context of recurrent miscarriages or implantation failures was highlighted.

783 (!) studies on this topic have been critically reviewed.

Relationship between the NK cell level and the risk of miscarriage:

Studies on this topic show contradictory results: Emmer et al., 2000; Souza et al., 2002; Wang et al., 2008; Clifford et al., 1999; Quenby et al., 1999 and 2005; Tuckerman et al., 2007; Michimata et al., 2002; Shimata et al., 2004.

The measurement of NK cells in peripheral blood does not allow for a direct correlation to their level in the uterus. Furthermore, pNK and uNK carry different surface antigens. In the middle of the first cycle half, uNK can be detected at higher concentrations. However, neither the measurement of uNK nor the measurement of pNK (cyclically dependent or independent) allows for a conclusion regarding the influence on implantation processes.

Relationship between NK cell levels and pregnancy rate:

Here too, the results of the studies differed widely: Beer et al., 1996; Matsubayashi et al., 2001; Ntrivalas et al., 2001; Vujisic et al., 2004; Ledee-Bataille et al., 2005; Matteo et al., 2007.

As a result of the extensive literature review, the authors conclude that the predictive value of the pNK and uNK measurements in the diagnosis of women with recurrent miscarriages or unsuccessful fertility treatment is currently unclear.

In addition, it is currently not yet agreed upon which blood levels (at which phase of the cycle) are actually normal or not!

As already in a Cochrane Review on the topic Immunotherapy in habitual abortion concluding that this is the case, the authors call for the development of a specific testing method for the detection of immunologically-induced miscarriages and the effective treatment that results from this.

 

Sources: From “Natural killer cells and pregnancy outcomes in women with recurrent miscarriage and infertility: a systematic review”
A. W. Tang, Z. Alfirevic and S. Quenby in Human Reproduction, Vol. 26, No. 8

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