Gene Expression Profiling of the Paracrine Effects of Uterine Natural Killer Cells on Human Endometrial Epithelial Cells

Figure 3

Model of the proliferation and function of uNK cells. During implantation and early pregnancy, the uNK paracrine signals stimulate endometrial epithelial cells to produce IL-15, VEGF, and other unidentified factors that may regulate uNK cell proliferation. The immune paracrine communication between uNK and endometrial epithelial cells may support implantation and trophoblast development.