Glycodelin regulates the numbers and function of peripheral natural killer cells

Natural killer (NK) cells comprise of similar to 70% of the immune cell population in the maternal decidua and similar to 15% of the mononuclear cells in the peripheral blood. The decidual NK cells capable of producing high levels of cytokines are functionally distinct from the peripheral NK cells that exhibit high cytotoxicity. The numbers of peripheral NK cells and their cytotoxicity potential have been correlated with pregnancy outcome. In the same context, glycodelin, an immunomodulatory protein, has been recognized to be essential for the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy, and its' reduced levels are associated with recurrent spontaneous abortions. We investigated the effect of glycodelin on the peripheral NK cells. Our results reveal that glycodelin suppresses the cytotoxicity of peripheral NK cells via downregulating perforin, granzyme B and IFN gamma. Glycodelin also induces caspase-dependent death in only activated peripheral NK cells, the effect suggested to be mediated by glycodelin upon engaging with the CD7 cell surface receptor. Thus, during pregnancy, glycodelin modulates the function and the number of cytotoxic NK cells that pose a deleterious effect on the fetus, a semi-allograft. This study provides insights into the mechanism of the regulatory effect of glycodelin on NK cells and could possibly be exploited for the management of miscarriages.