Detection of T8 (suppressor/cytotoxic) lymphocytes in human ovarian follicular fluid.
Clear ovarian follicular fluid and the follicular flush (bloody) of aspirated follicles from 18 women undergoing oocyte retrieval for in vitro fertilization were tested for the presence of T-lymphocyte subpopulations with the use of a panel of monoclonal antibodies in indirect immunofluorescence assay. A sample of peripheral venous blood from each patient was run as a control. There was no difference in the percentage of cells positive for the various markers between bloody follicular fluid (i.e., ovarian blood) and peripheral venous blood. T8-positive (suppressor/cytotoxic) lymphocytes were recovered from all clear follicular fluids; ten of the patients exhibited a dramatically decreased T4/T8 ratio (peripheral blood, 2:1; clear follicular fluid, 1:25; P less than 0.001). These lymphocytes may be involved in the suppression of autoimmune responses directed against ovarian antigens.
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification*