Journal of Isfahan Medical School

Journal of Isfahan Medical School

Expression of NKG2D Receptors in CD3+ and CD56+ Cells in Blood Samples of Pre-eclampsia Patients and the Effect of Silymarin on Their Activity in Vitro

Authors
Ali Reza Andalib 1
Nafiseh Esmaeil 2
Elahe Zarean 3
Golzar Ahmadi 4
Fahimeh Hosseininasab 5
Mohadeseh Toghyani 5
1 Professor, Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
2 Associate Professor, Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
3 Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
4 MSc Student, Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
5 MSc, Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
10.48305/jims.2022.16312
Abstract
Background: Increased NK cells or their cytokine activity in endometrium and peripheral blood of mothers with pre-eclampsia have been reported. NKG2D is a cell surface receptor that can be used to detect NK cell and lymphocytic activity. Plant flavonoids such as silymarin has immunomodulatory effects and potentially inhibit the disease progression. Therefore, an in vitro experiment was designed to investigate the immunomodulatory effects of silymarin in pre-eclampsia.
Methods: Blood samples from preeclamptic and pregnant and non-pregnant women were analyzed by Isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) using Ficoll-Paque. Flow cytometry was used for marker assay including NKG2D expression on CD56+CD3- and CD3+ cells. Also, different concentrations of silymarin were applied, andNKG2D expression on the cells were considered, and IFNγ production in the cell culture medium were evaluated using ELISA.
Findings: CD3-CD56+ cells and NKG2D receptor expression were augmented in PBMCs in the pre-eclampsia group (P = 0.03). However, treatment of PBMCs with silymarin solutions decrease NKG2D markers on the lymphocytes. PBMCs treated cells by silymarin in culture medium indicates reduce IFNɣ production even in the presence of IL-2 stimulation by 2-3 folds (P = 0.0001).
Conclusion: Increase in NK cell population, NKG2D receptor expression and IFNɣ production play a crucial role in the samples of preeclamptic patients, and well express involvement of immunological factors of the disease. The effectiveness of silymarin in cell culture medium and modulation of inflammatory factors necessitate the design of clinical model for using silymarin in patients by risk of increased NK activity in pre-eclampsia patients.
Keywords
Pre-eclampsia
Silymarin
NK cell
T cell
NKG2D
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Journal of Isfahan Medical School
Volume 40, Issue 661
1st Week, May
May and June 2022
Pages 95-102

  • Receive Date 02 May 2022