Linked Life Data

1875329

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/1875329

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1
pubmed:dateCreated
1991-9-25
pubmed:abstractText
Changes in the activity and number of natural killer (NK) cells in peripheral blood in normal pregnant and postpartum women were examined. NK activity was measured in a 4-h 51Cr-release assay and evaluated by conventional relative lytic units and absolute lytic units which represent the total NK activity within a fixed volume of circulating blood. The number of NK cells was analyzed with FITC-conjugated monoclonal antibodies and by use of an automated flow cytometer. Unexpectedly, the relative NK activity increased in the first trimester and also for 1 month postpartum compared to the activity in normal non-pregnant controls. On the other hand, absolute NK activity decreased in the third trimester compared to the activity in normal non-pregnant controls. The percentage of CD57+ cells decreased in the second trimester, but the percentage of CD16+ cells did not change during pregnancy or the postpartum period. The absolute counts of CD57+ cells and CD16+ cells decreased in the second and third trimesters and increased transiently in the postpartum period. These findings indicate that the increased NK activity in the first trimester and at 1 month postpartum is induced by increased cytotoxic activity of individual NK cells, and that the decreased NK activity in late pregnancy is induced by a decrease in the numbers of NK cells. These physiological changes may play an important role in implantation in early pregnancy, protection of the fetal allograft in late pregnancy and in the natural defense against infection during the puerperal period.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
May
pubmed:issn
0165-0378
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
20
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
73-83
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1991
pubmed:articleTitle
Changes in natural killer cell activity in normal pregnant and postpartum women: increases in the first trimester and postpartum period and decrease in late pregnancy.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Osaka University Medical School, Japan.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Comparative Study, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't