One of the most abundant immunologic cell types in early decidua is the uterine natural killer (UNK) cell that despite the presence of cytoplasmic granules rich in perforin and granzymes does not degranulate in normal pregnancy. UNK cells are important producers of angiogenic factors that permit normal dilation of uterine arteries to provide increased blood flow for the growing feto-placental unit. Gram-negative bacteria lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration can trigger an imbalance of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines impairing the normal immune cells activity as well as uterine homeostasis. The present study aimed to evaluate by immunohistochemistry the reactivity of perforin and α-actin on UNK cell from LPStreated pregnant mice. For the first time, we demonstrate that LPS injection in pregnant mice causes α-actin down regulation, concomitantly with perforin loss in UNK cells. This suggests that LPS alters UNK cell migration and activates cytotoxic granule release., B. Zavan, A. M. do Amarante-Paffaro, V. A. Paffaro Jr., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The concept of α-ideals in posets is introduced. Several properties of α-ideals in 0-distributive posets are studied. Characterization of prime ideals to be α-ideals in 0- distributive posets is obtained in terms of minimality of ideals. Further, it is proved that if a prime ideal I of a 0-distributive poset is non-dense, then I is an α-ideal. Moreover, it is shown that the set of all α-ideals α Id(P) of a poset P with 0 forms a complete lattice. A result analogous to separation theorem for finite 0-distributive posets is obtained with respect to prime α-ideals. Some counterexamples are also given.