Expression patterns of lectin-like natural killer receptors, inhibitory CD94/NKG2A, and activating CD94/NKG2C on decidual CD56bright natural killer cells differ from …

M Kusumi, T Yamashita, T Fujii, T Nagamatsu… - Journal of reproductive …, 2006 - Elsevier
The balance of inhibitory and activating natural killer (NK) receptors on maternal decidual
NK cells, most of which are CD56bright, is thought to be crucial for the proper growth of
trophoblasts in placenta. A lectin-like NK receptor, CD94/NKG2, is the receptor for human
leukocyte antigen (HLA)-E, which is expressed on trophoblasts. To clarify the mechanism
regulating the activity of decidual NK cells during pregnancy, we investigated the expression
patterns of inhibitory NK receptor, CD94/NKG2A, and activating receptor, CD94/NKG2C, on …