Isolation of Granulated Metrial Gland Cells, a Uterine Form of Natural Killer Cell, by Magnetic Immunobeads/Particles

Abstract

Significant numbers of cells known by the name granulated metrial gland (GMG) cells, or uterine natural killer (NK) cells, are present in the murine uterus only during pregnancy. The functions of GMG cells remain incompletely defined, largely due to technical difficulties in isolating and culturing these cells. New methods for purifying large numbers of GMG cells are required. This study examined two methods for isolating GMG cells from the murine pregnant uterus based upon magnetic immunobeads and immunoparticles. By either approach, the yield of GMG cells was 1 × 10⁴ cells/metrial gland. Isolations using immunobeads gave cell suspensions with 82% in purity and 70% in viability. Isolations using immunoparticles gave cell suspensions with 62% in purity and 67% in viability. GMG cells isolated by the magnetic method retained an ultrastructure similar to in vivo GMG cells. These results establish that immunomagnetic approaches are useful for isolation of GMG cells from the pregnant murine uterus.