Ashni Khetarpal

• MBBS
• “Unconventional” NK cells in the uterus: What do they do?

During pregnancy, the mother’s uterus comes into contact with cells from the father forming the growing embryo. These foreign cells could trigger an immune response in the mother, but uterine Natural Killer (uNK) cells are thought to supress this from happening. Increasing evidence reveals that complications of pregnancy, i.e fetal growth restriction, pre-eclampsia and recurrent miscarriages are associated with defect in uNK cells function. The Colucci’s lab has recently identified an “unconventional” uNK cells subset in the mouse uterus (manuscript in preparation). My role will be to investigate their spatial-temporal distribution and to characterise their key features for reproductive success.

Funding source: Physiological Society & Newcastle University