24 Questions
What is the main challenge in conducting research in reproductive immunology?
Poor study design and over-interpretation of results
What is a common issue in defining the 'patient' group in NK cell analysis studies?
Heterogeneity of the group
Why is NK cell analysis in reproductive medicine considered both a 'marketing dream' and an 'academic nightmare'?
Because it has high commercial potential but lacks scientific rigor
What is a major limitation in NK cell analysis studies?
Limited understanding of the pathological mechanisms
What should clinicians consider when interpreting NK cell analysis results?
The complexities of laboratory methods used
Why are controls difficult to recruit and define in NK cell analysis studies?
Because they are difficult to define and recruit
What is a major challenge in immunological testing related to natural killer cells?
A lack of consensus on referral ranges
What is the primary method used to assess uNK cells?
Immunohistochemistry
What is a limitation of counting CD56+ cells in uNK cell analysis?
It does not provide information on subtype or level of activation
Why is it challenging to develop a reliable method of counting uNK cells in endometrium?
Because endometrium is a complex glandular histological structure
Why is it important to consider the day of the cycle when interpreting uNK cell levels?
Because uNK cell levels vary enormously on a daily basis
What is a criticism of using pNK cells as a surrogate for uNK cells?
pNK cells are mainly of different phenotype to the majority of uNK cells
What is the main advantage of Immunohistochemistry (IHC) over traditional tissue staining techniques?
It is a more sensitive and specific method for identifying immune cells
What is a major limitation of using flow cytometry to isolate uNK cells?
Cell selection is not 100% pure due to mixing with other cell types
What is a characteristic feature of RPL endometrium?
The accumulation of uNK cells under the luminal epithelium
Why is IHC preferred over flow cytometry for studying uNK cells?
IHC does not require enzymatic processing of endometrial tissue
What is a disadvantage of using flow cytometry for immunophenotyping?
Many important informations about the antigenic structure and localization of immune cells are lost
What is a limitation of using large endometrial specimens for flow cytometry?
It requires immediate enzymatic processing
What percentage of uNK and pNK cells are of different phenotype?
90%
What is a limitation of endometrial biopsy?
It is a painful and invasive procedure
What may pNK cell activity represent?
A marker for immunological disorder
What can affect the results of pNK cell analysis?
Several factors including venepuncture conditions, transport to the lab, and protocols for preparation and labelling
What is the corrected range for pNK cells in females?
5-20%
What is one of the methods used for the analysis of pNK cells?
Flow Cytometry
This lecture covers the methods of investigations in reproductive immunology, challenges of research, and natural killer cell analysis in reproductive medicine. Learn about the controversies and complexities of NK cell analysis and its limitations.
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