Review
Immunology
Nurul Izza Ismail
Summary: As the placenta is semi-allogenic, it is expected that maternal immune cells would attack the invading trophoblast, but studies have shown that they cooperate with the trophoblast to disrupt the arterial wall. uNK cells, unique immune cells, play a role in pregnancy. The interaction between HLA class 1b genes and maternal uNK cells in humans is described in this review.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Oisin Huhn, Xiaohui Zhao, Laura Esposito, Ashley Moffett, Francesco Colucci, Andrew M. Sharkey
Summary: Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are the most abundant immune cells in the uterine mucosa before and during pregnancy, with tissue-resident natural killer (NK) cells and ILCs being the main subsets. Recent advances in single-cell RNA sequencing and high dimensional flow and mass cytometry have significantly enhanced our understanding of the heterogeneity within the uILC compartment. These advancements may help answer key clinical questions regarding infertility, miscarriage, and pregnancy disorders related to uILC subsets.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Victoria Male, Ashley Moffett
Summary: The presence of granulated lymphocytes known as uNK cells in the human uterine mucosa was first noted in the nineteenth century, but they were identified as a type of NK cell in 1990. Uterine NK cells have been found to be less cytotoxic than their peripheral counterparts. Recent research has identified three subpopulations of uNK cells that cluster separately from peripheral NK cells. This review examines the history of uNK cell research, their interactions with placental cells, their role in placental implantation, and their potential for defending against infection and mediating memory effects.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Indra Diaz-Hernandez, Diana Alecsandru, Juan Antonio Garcia-Velasco, Francisco Dominguez
Summary: uNK cells play a crucial role in embryo implantation and successful pregnancy. Their functions are closely related to interactions with extravillous trophoblast cells and spiral arteries, regulating vascular function, controlling trophoblast invasion, and promoting placental development. Certain KIR/HLA-C combinations have been associated with recurrent miscarriage, pre-eclampsia, and foetal growth restriction.
HUMAN REPRODUCTION UPDATE
(2021)
Editorial Material
Hematology
Robin Parihar
Summary: In this study, memory-like natural killer (ML NK) cells were evaluated for their potential in treating relapsed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients after transplantation. The results show that ML NK cells hold promise in AML therapy, and serial assessments of blood and bone marrow provide new insights into their biology.
Review
Immunology
Fuyan Wang, Anita Ellen Qualls, Laia Marques-Fernandez, Francesco Colucci
Summary: The human uterine mucosa undergoes about 400 monthly cycles of breakdown and regeneration, with immune cells and arterial remodeling playing a crucial role in fetal growth. The transformed arteries in the uterus no longer respond to maternal stimuli, meeting the increasing demands of the growing fetus.
CELLULAR & MOLECULAR IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Debora Basilio-Queiros, Eva Mischak-Weissinger
Summary: Natural Killer (NK) cells have evolved significantly since their initial discovery in the 1970s. Recent research has revealed adaptive-like behavior in NK cells, challenging the traditional categorization of the immune system. This subpopulation of NK cells exhibits characteristics of both innate and adaptive immunity, with clonal-like expansion and enhanced cytotoxic response upon antigen exposure. The implications of these findings are highly relevant in clinical settings, particularly in adoptive immunotherapies where NK cells offer distinct advantages. This review provides an overview of the discovery and current understanding of adaptive NK cells.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chow-Seng Kong, Alexandra Almansa Ordonez, Sarah Turner, Tina Tremaine, Joanne Muter, Emma S. Lucas, Emma Salisbury, Rita Vassena, Gustavo Tiscornia, Ali A. Fouladi-Nashta, Geraldine Hartshorne, Jan J. Brosens, Paul J. Brighton
Summary: The study found that uterine natural killer cells play a crucial role in embryo biosensing and implantation process, highlighting their importance in selectively eliminating senescent decidual cells.
Review
Immunology
Min Xie, Yan Li, Yi-Zi Meng, Peng Xu, Yong-Guang Yang, Shuai Dong, Jin He, Zheng Hu
Summary: Uterine natural killer (uNK) cells are an immune subset located in the uterus that play a crucial role in successful pregnancy and protection against pathogens. Their abnormal alterations may lead to pregnancy complications and uterine diseases.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Delphine M. Depierreux, Emily Seshadri, Evgeniya Shmeleva, Jens Kieckbusch, Delia A. Hawkes, Francesco Colucci
Summary: This study presents a simple method for isolating and phenotyping mouse group 1 uterine innate lymphoid cells (g1 uILCs) from individual pregnant uteruses using flow cytometry. Despite losing spatial information, this protocol has successfully been used to investigate uILC heterogeneity, their response to pregnancy-related factors, gene expression profiles, and functions.
JOVE-JOURNAL OF VISUALIZED EXPERIMENTS
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Francesco Colucci
Summary: I argue in this review that reproduction was a driving force in the evolution of NK cell education, which is set by interactions between inhibitory receptors and self-MHC. The maternal immune system's tolerance of the semiallogeneic fetus is a fascinating question. Tissue lymphocytes, like uterine NK cells, do not attack the mismatched fetus and its placenta, but instead help the local vasculature tolerate changes necessary to nourish the fetus.
JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Delphine M. Depierreux, Jens Kieckbusch, Norman Shreeve, Delia A. Hawkes, Bryan Marsh, Robert Blelloch, Andrew Sharkey, Francesco Colucci
Summary: Reproductive immunology focuses on understanding how the maternal immune system supports fetal growth. Maternal uterine natural killer (uNK) cells, in partnership with fetal trophoblast cells, regulate physiological vascular changes in the uterus to build the placenta and sustain fetal growth. The education of uNK cells by maternal MHC-I is crucial for optimal fetal growth.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mengwei Han, Luni Hu, Di Wu, Yime Zhang, Peng Li, Xingyu Zhao, Yanyu Zeng, Guanqun Ren, Zhiyuan Hou, Yanli Pang, Tongbiao Zhao, Chao Zhong
Summary: This study characterizes the differentiation and activation of uterine trNK cells during pregnancy, revealing a mechanism involving IL-21R-STAT3 axis and an apoptotic program to control their functionality and avoid tissue damage.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Norman Shreeve, Delphine Depierreux, Delia Hawkes, James A. Traherne, Ulla Sovio, Oisin Huhn, Jyothi Jayaraman, Amir Horowitz, Hormas Ghadially, John R. B. Perry, Ashley Moffett, John G. Sled, Andrew M. Sharkey, Francesco Colucci
Summary: Genetic ablation of NKG2A in dams mated with wild-type males may result in suboptimal maternal vascular responses during pregnancy, leading to various abnormalities similar to human preeclampsia. The study also suggests that the maternal HLA-B allele plays a significant role in influencing NKG2A education, potentially affecting the risk of developing preeclampsia.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Konstantinos Sfakianoudis, Anna Rapani, Sokratis Grigoriadis, Agni Pantou, Evangelos Maziotis, Georgia Kokkini, Chrysanthi Tsirligkani, Stamatis Bolaris, Konstantinos Nikolettos, Margarita Chronopoulou, Konstantinos Pantos, Mara Simopoulou
Summary: Current evidence regarding the role of uterine natural killer (uNK) cells in recurrent implantation failure (RIF) and recurrent miscarriages (RM) is conflicting, with a definitive causative relationship still missing. Possible treatments for addressing uNK-related RIF and RM include glucocorticoids, intralipids, and intravenous immunoglobulin administration, but solid evidence on their efficiency and safety is needed before recommendation. Further studies are necessary to determine a causative relationship between uNK cells and RIF-RM pathologies before considering them as biomarkers or targets for therapeutic purposes.
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Jacqueline Pui Wah Chung, Cathy Hoi Sze Chung, Jennifer Sze Man Mak, Tin Chiu Li, Grace Wing Shan Kong
AUSTRALIAN & NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Xiao Shi, David Yiu Leung Chan, Ming Peng Zhao, Carol Pui Shan Chan, Jin Huang, Tin-Chiu Li
REPRODUCTIVE BIOMEDICINE ONLINE
(2019)
Article
Immunology
Wen-Jui Yang, Xiaoyan Chen, Yiwei Zhao, Wing Ching Cheung, Shun-Yu Hsiao, Yingyu Liu, Tracy Sze Man Law, Jacqueline Pui Wah Chung, Tin Chiu Li
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Jennifer Sze Man Mak, Terence T. Lao, Maran Bo Wah Leung, Cathy Hoi Sze Chung, Jacqueline Pui Wah Chung, Lai Ping Cheung, Tin-Chiu Li
JOURNAL OF VIRAL HEPATITIS
(2020)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Noel Yat Hey Ng, Guozhi Jiang, Lai Ping Cheung, Yuying Zhang, Claudia Ha Ting Tam, Andrea On Yan Luk, Jianchao Quan, Eric Siu Him Lau, Tiffany Tse Ling Yau, Michael Ho Ming Chan, Chung Shun Ho, Cadmon King Poo Lim, Risa Ozaki, Jin Huang, Kin Hung Liu, Wing Hung Tam, Daljit Singh Sahota, Winnie Chiu Wing Chu, William Goggins, Jean Woo, Tin Chiu Li, Chun Chung Chow, Juliana Chung Ngor Chan, Ronald Ching Wan Ma
Article
Cell Biology
Mingpeng Zhao, Murong Xu, Hanhui Li, Odai Alqawasmeh, Jacqueline Pui Wah Chung, Tin Chiu Li, Tin-Lap Lee, Patrick Ming-Kuen Tang, David Yiu Leung Chan
Summary: The study utilized convolutional neural network (CNN) for segmenting day-one human embryos in time-lapse imaging, achieving high precision, reproducibility and comparable results with literature-reported values. The CNN system shows potential for practical application in improving efficiency in in vitro fertilization settings.
JOURNAL OF CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Jian Li, Dongmei Song, Xiangdong Feng, Xiaowu Huang, Enlan Xia, Tinchiu Li
Summary: Chronic endometritis is associated with cervical incompetence in Chinese women with mid-trimester loss, but its presence and prior treatment with antibiotics did not significantly influence obstetric outcomes after laparoscopic cervical cerclage.
ARCHIVES OF GYNECOLOGY AND OBSTETRICS
(2021)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Xiaoyan Chen, Gene Chi Wai Man, Sze Wan Hung, Tao Zhang, Linda Wen Ying Fung, Chun Wai Cheung, Jacqueline Pui Wah Chung, Tin Chiu Li, Chi Chiu Wang
Summary: Endometriosis, a chronic disorder affecting many women, is currently difficult to treat effectively. However, recent studies have shown that green tea, with its bioactive component EGCG, may have potential therapeutic effects on endometriosis by inhibiting various molecular and cellular mechanisms.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN FOOD SCIENCE AND NUTRITION
(2023)
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Mostafa Metwally, Robin Chatters, Clare Pye, Munya Dimairo, David White, Stephen Walters, Judith Cohen, Tracey Young, Ying Cheong, Susan Laird, Lamiya Mohiyiddeen, Tim Chater, Kirsty Pemberton, Chris Turtle, Jamie Hall, Liz Taylor, Kate Brian, Anya Sizer, Helen Hunter
HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
(2022)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Xi Guo, Chi Chiu Wang, Jacqueline Pui Wah Chung, Tin Chiu Li, Xiaoyan Chen
Summary: This study investigated the relationship between angiogenic factors (VEGFA, PlGF, and IGF-1) and pregnancy outcomes. The results showed no significant difference in serum levels of these factors between pregnant and non-pregnant women. However, a positive correlation was found between IGF-1 concentration and beta-hCG level in pregnant women.
Review
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Odai Alqawasmeh, Ellis Fok, Howard Yim, Tin Li, Jacqueline Chung, David Chan
Summary: This article discusses the research on the microbiome of the male reproductive system and explores the potential impact of bacteria on male infertility. The potential benefits of probiotics as an alternative treatment for male infertility are highlighted, and the negative impact of certain bacteria on semen parameters as well as the protective effects of Lactobacillus are addressed.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ziheng Zhou, Cong Tan, Matthew Hoi Kin Chau, Xiaosen Jiang, Ziyuan Ke, Xiaoyan Chen, Ye Cao, Yvonne K. Kwok, Matthew Bellgard, Tak Yeung Leung, Kwong Wai Choy, Zirui Dong
Summary: In this study, we curated and analyzed sequencing data from multiple developmental periods of humans and various model organisms, providing insights into gene expression, chromatin accessibility, and gene-gene regulation interactions. The findings contribute to our understanding of the roles of genes in tissue/organ development and disease mechanisms.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Ying Li, Matthew Hoi Kin Chau, Ying Xin Zhang, Yilin Zhao, Shuwen Xue, Tin Chiu Li, Ye Cao, Zirui Dong, Kwong Wai Choy, Jacqueline Pui Wah Chung
Summary: This study reveals the significance of multiple-site low-pass genome sequencing (GS) in detecting genetic abnormalities, particularly heterogeneously distributed mosaicisms and homogeneously distributed mosaicisms in products of conception (POCs) of first-trimester miscarriage. The study found that multiple-site sampling combined with low-pass GS significantly increased the genetic diagnostic yield of first-trimester miscarriages and discovered the currently underappreciated heterogeneously distributed mosaicisms. This is important for understanding the implications of mosaic genetic abnormalities in early miscarriages.
HUMAN REPRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Jacqueline Pui Wah Chung, Olivia See Yung Chau, Tracy Sze Man Law, Karen Ng, Patricia Nga Ping Ip, Elaine Yee Lee Ng, Tracy Kwan Yi Tso, Daljit Singh Sahota, Tin Chiu Li
Summary: Ultrasound-guided manual vacuum aspiration (USG-MVA) is a feasible and effective outpatient treatment for early pregnancy loss. Compared to electric vacuum aspiration (EVA), USG-MVA can reduce the incidence of intrauterine adhesion.
ARCHIVES OF GYNECOLOGY AND OBSTETRICS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
J. Huang, W. Zhu, J. Tang, S. H. Saravelos, L. C. Y. Poon, T. C. Li