Natural Killer Cell Receptors and Endometriosis: A Systematic Review

José Reis, Natacha Nurdine Rosa, Miguel Ângelo‐Dias, Catarina Martins, Luís Miguel Borrego, Jorge Lima
International journal of molecular sciences · 2022 · vol. 24(1) , pp. 331 · doi:10.3390/ijms24010331 · PMID:36613776 · W4313328543
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-08 ⓘ

This systematic review of 18 studies found that endometriosis pathogenesis involves overexpression of NK inhibitory receptors and decreased NK activating receptors, suggesting NK receptor activity influences clearance of endometriotic cells.

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Abstract

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disorder, characterized by the presence of endometrial cells outside the uterine cavity. An increasing number of studies correlate the immune system with endometriosis, particularly NK receptors (NKR), which have been suggested to play an essential role in the pathogenesis of the disease. This systematic review aims to enlighten the role of NKR in endometriosis. A literature search was performed independently by two reviewers, to identify studies assessing the role of NKR in endometriosis. In total, 18 studies were included. Endometriosis pathogenesis seems to be marked by the overexpression of NK inhibitor receptors (KIRS), namely, CD158a+, KIR2DL1, CD94/NKG2A, PD-1, NKB1, and EB6, and inhibiting ligands such as PD-L1, HLA-E, HLA-G, and HLA-I. Concurrently, there is a decrease in NK-activating receptors and natural cytotoxicity receptors (NCRs), such as NKp46, NKp30, and NKG2D. The immune shift from NK surveillance to NK suppression is also apparent in the greater relative number of ITIM domains compared with ITAM domains in NKRs. In conclusion, NK receptor activity seems to dictate the immunocompetency of women to clear endometriotic cells from the peritoneal cavity. Future research could explore NKRs as therapeutic targets, such as that which is now well established in cancer therapy through immunotherapy.

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Condition tags

mesh:D004715endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Killer Cells, Natural Killer Cells, Natural Killer Cells, Natural Killer Cells, Natural Killer Cells, Natural Killer Cells, Natural Killer Cells, Natural Killer Cells, Natural Endometrium Endometrium Endometrium

Citation neighborhood

Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

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