EXPRESSION OF CD3-EPSILON, CD3-ZETA, AND RAG-1 RAG-2 IN DECIDUAL CD56(+) NK CELLS/

In early pregnancy the uterine mucosa, the decidua, is infiltrated by numerous CD56(bright), CD16(-) natural killer (NK) cells. In this pape r we have shown that unlike adult peripheral blood NK cells these uter ine NK cells express cytoplasmic CD3 and CD3 zeta, but CD3 gamma and C D3 delta were not found in the majority of cells. In contrast to previ ous reports, there was no evidence of RAG-1 nor RAG-2 expression in de cidual NK cells. These findings have implications for the ontogeny and development of decidual NK cells. (C) 1998 Academic Press.