engleski

Granulysin expression in tubal ectopic pregnancy

The aim of our study was to investigate the expression and distribution of granulysin (GNY) at the mucosal tissue in tubal ectopic pregnancy (EP). Granulysin belongs to the family of saposin-like lipid binding proteins and is found in human natural killer (NK) cells and cytotoxic activated T lymphocytes (CTL). It is suggested that granulysin participates in the regulation of trophoblast invasion by induction of trophoblast apoptosis during abortions. Granulysin expression was analyzed in tubal mucosa, at and away of the implantation site, as well as in uterine decidua of women undergoing surgical treatment of ectopic pregnancy and in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the same women. Immunohistology was used to detect expression and localization of the granulysin in paraffin embedded mucosal tissues. Rare granulysin positive cells were found in tubal mucosa at and away from the implantation site. Contrary, abundant granulysin positive cells were found in normal pregnancy and ectopic uterine decidua. Cells suspensions of mononuclear cells were obtained by enzymatic digestion of mucosal tissue and gradient density centrifugation. The distribution of granulysin is then analyzed by flow cytometry in CD3+CD56- and CD3-CD56+ labeled cells. The frequency of granulysin expressing NK cells from reproductive mucosas were lower in comparison to peripheral blood NK cells. Furthermore, fewer granulysin positive cells were found in tubal mucosal NK cells than in EP uterine decidua. The percentage of granulysin positive CD3+CD56- T cells is significantly higher in EP uterine decidua in comparison to other sites tested. In our opinion very low levels of granulysin expression at tubal implantation site could allow the higher degree of trophoblast invasion of tubal wall in EP. Acknowledgement: The experiments were financed by Croatian Ministry of Science, Education and Sports Grants No. 0620402-0376, 0620402-0377 and 0620402-0379.

granulysin; ectopic pregnancy; natural killer

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