Expression of Natural Cytotoxicity Receptors on and Intracellular Cytokine Production by NK Cells in Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Problem To determine the role of peripheral blood NK (pNK) cells in putative etiology of gestational diabetes, the expression of surface markers on pNK cells and the percentage of cytokine‐producing pNK cells in women at 12 weeks of pregnancy with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) were studied. Method of study Multicolor flow cytometry was used to analyze the expression of NK cell surface receptors (CD16, NKp46, and NKp30) and intracellular cytokines (IFN‐γ, TNF‐α, TGF‐β, and VEGF) in pNK cells (CD56dim and CD56bright) at 12 weeks of pregnancy with GDM (n = 7) and non‐GDM (n = 28). Results CD56bright/CD16− NK and CD56bright/NKp46+ NK cell percentage were significantly lower in GDM women than that in non‐GDM women. IFN‐γ‐ and TNF‐α‐producing CD56+ cells, respectively, were significantly high, while TGF‐β‐ and VEGF‐producing CD56+ cells and CD56bright cells, respectively, were significantly low in GDM women. Conclusions Women with GDM possibly have abnormal NK cell function for the expression of surface receptors and cytokine production.