Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 1999, 187 (2)

Apoptosis of Human Endometrium Mediated by Perforin and Granzyme B of NK Cells and Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes

RYO KONNO, TSUKASA IGARASHI, SATOSHI OKAMOTO, SHINJI SATO, TAKUYA MORIYA,1 HIRONOBU SASANO1 and AKIRA YAJIMA

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and 1Department of Pathology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8574

  • Endometrial stromal granulocytes (EGs) were found to be a major component of human endometrial stroma in the late secretory phase. However, the role of EGs in the mechanism of human endometrial menstruation has not been clarified. Immunohistochemistry of CD56, perforin, granzyme B, and vimentin, in situ detection of apoptosis by TUNEL (TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick and labeling) and electron microscopy were performed in endometrial tissue samples with normal menstrual cycles. We analyzed the number of immunostained cells in the functional layer of stroma and the number of apoptotic cells detected by TUNEL in the endometrial glandular cells. Double-staining revealed that CD56-positive endometrial stromal cells were simultaneously positive for both perforin and granzyme B, and negative for vimentin, which recognized stromal tissue. Vimentin was positive for the predecidual cells and negative for EGs. CD56-positive EGs involving perforin and granzyme B were progressively recruited during the secretory phases before menstruation. Apoptosis in endometrial glandular cells increased from the late secretory phase, which maximized at the menstrual period. This finding suggests that the cytotoxic granules released from EGs, which are derived from cytotoxic T lymphocytes and natural killer cells, are initiators of the apoptotic pathway that induces endometrial menstruation.
    Key words--- endometrium; mensturation; apoptosis; perforin; granzyme B
    © 1999 Tohoku University Medical Press

    Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 1999, 187, 149-155
    Address for reprints: Ryo Konno, M.D., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryomachi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 908-8574, Japan.
    e-mail: konno@ob-gy.med.tohoku.ac.jp

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