NKp46 is a natural cytotoxicity receptor expressed by NK cells and its expression is decreased in reproductive failure patients. NKp46 can be subdivided into NKp46^dim and NKp46^bright according to different fluorescence staining intensities. We investigated the role of the NKp46 receptor in determining the reproductive outcomes. Uterine endometrium was collected from 34 women with reproductive failure and divided into the pregnant and failed groups based on the results of a pregnancy reaction test during a 1-year follow-up period. NKp46 receptor and other activating or inhibitory receptors expressed on NK cells as well as intracellular cytokine production by NK cells were analyzed by multicolor flow cytometry. In the failed group, the percentage of NKp46^dim NK cells (P < 0.05) was significantly higher and percentages of NKp46^bright NK cells (P < 0.01) and CD16⁻/CD56^bright NK cells (P < 0.05) were significantly lower than those in the pregnant group. NKp46^dim NK cells were significantly and positively correlated with CD16⁺/NKp46^dim NK cells; NKp46^bright NK cells were significantly and positively correlated with CD16⁻/NKp46^bright NK cells. CD16⁺/NKp46^dim NK cells were significantly and positively correlated with IFN-γ- and/or TNF-α-producing NK cells; CD16⁻/NKp46^bright NK cells were significantly and positively correlated with TGF-β1-producing NK cells. We suggest that the NKp46 receptor plays different roles in reproduction based on the different fluorescence intensities associated with NK cells, i.e. NKp46^dim NK cells are involved in killing cells, whereas NKp46^bright NK cells are involved in cytokine production, indicating that NKp46 could be a predictive marker to see a tolerate condition for embryos.

NKp46 是一种由 NK 细胞表达的天然细胞毒性受体，在生殖衰竭患者中其表达减少。NKp46根据荧光染色强度的不同可细分为NKp46 ^dim和NKp46 ^{bright 。}我们研究了 NKp46 受体在确定生殖结果中的作用。从 34 名生殖失败妇女中收集子宫内膜，并根据 1 年随访期间的妊娠反应试验结果分为妊娠组和失败组。通过多色流式细胞术分析NK细胞上表达的NKp46受体和其他激活或抑制受体以及NK细胞产生的细胞内细胞因子。在失败组中，NKp46 ^{dim的百分比}NK细胞（P < 0.05）明显高于妊娠组，NKp46^亮NK细胞（P < 0.01）和CD16 ^- /CD56^亮NK细胞百分比（P < 0.05）明显低于妊娠组。NKp46 ^dim NK 细胞与 CD16 ⁺ /NKp46 ^dim NK 细胞呈显着正相关；NKp46^{亮NK细胞与CD16 -} /NKp46^亮NK细胞显着正相关。CD16 ⁺ /NKp46^暗淡NK细胞与产生IFN-γ和/或TNF-α的NK细胞显着正相关；CD16 ^- /NKp46^明亮的NK 细胞与产生 TGF-β1 的 NK 细胞显着正相关。我们认为 NKp46 受体根据与 NK 细胞相关的不同荧光强度在生殖中发挥不同的作用，即 NKp46^暗NK 细胞参与杀伤细胞，而 NKp46^亮NK 细胞参与细胞因子的产生，表明 NKp46 可能是预测标记，以查看胚胎的耐受条件。