The role of uterine natural killer (uNK) cells in the endometrium of infertile women
Keywords:
Infertility, Subfertility, Uterine Natural Killer Cell, Implantation, Recurrent Implantation, FailureAbstract
Subfertility is defined as delayed conception with low fertility, while infertility is defined as inability to conceive naturally within one year despite unprotected sexual intercourse. The endometrium is the inner layer of the uterus where the blastocyst attaches and grows. The content of the endometrium and the number of immune system cells therein can be associated with infertility. The fact that most of the lymphoid cells in the endometrium are uterine natural killer (uNK) cells has drawn attention to the immune system in infertility. However, the roles of uNK cells have not yet been fully elucidated. Studies suggest that uNK cells, members of the lymphoid system, may play an important role in implantation and pregnancy. Although the high number of these cells, which are important for implantation and the continuation of pregnancy, is associated with infertility, there are also studies suggesting that there is no relationship between them. In our study, it was aimed to investigate studies examining the relationship of uNK cells with subfertility and infertility.
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