Fig. 1

Expression of CD56 and NKp30 in human endometrium. Representative micrographs showing CD56 expression by immunohistochemistry (brown DAB staining) in eutopic endometrial stromal cells of fertile control women (a, A-C) and in women with endometriosis (b, A-C) (400× magnification). NKp30 expression in eutopic endometrial stromal cells from fertile control women (a, D-F) and women with endometriosis (b, E-G). Staining in ectopic lesions are shown in (b D) (uNK cells) and (b H) (NKp30). Graphs comparing %CD56 (1c), %NKp30 (d) and ratio of NKp30:CD56 (e) in ectopic lesions (n = 6–9) and at different time points in the menstrual cycle (PP = proliferative phase; MSP = mid-secretory phase; LSP = late-secretory phase; n = 10 for each group in human samples (in both fertile controls ‘normal’ and patients with endometriosis). (f) Graph showing percentage of CD56+ uNK cells in eutopic endometrium and ectopic lesions across the menstrual cycle (n = 9 ectopic lesions with matched eutopic endometrium in 7/36 cases) demonstrating that levels remain low in ectopic lesions. (g) Graph showing percentage of CD56+ uNK cells in matched eutopic and ectopic endometrium (n = 7). P = 0.03, Wilcoxon matched pairs signed rank test