Lymphocyte immunotherapy (LI) increases serum levels of progesterone induced blocking factor (PIBF).
OBJECTIVE
To determine if allogenic stimulation from leukocyte immunization (LI) can increase the production of an immunomodulatory protein called progesterone induced blocking factor (PIBF) by CD8+ T-lymphocytes.


METHODS
The study group consisted of 35 women, 29 who failed to conceive after repeated embryo transfers (ETs) and six with recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA). The women underwent LI using the the male partner's blood as the source of leukocytes. Progesterone induced blocking factor was measured pre- and post-LI with an immunocytochemistry method using a PIBF-specific polyclonal antibody.


RESULTS
The mean percentage of lymphocytes expressing PIBF, as well as the percentage of cases of whose PIBF level increased to 1% or more, was significantly higher post-LI, Similarly post-LI, there was a significantly lower percentage of zero PIBF levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Leukocyte immunization causes an increase in PIBF in many cases. Possibly the improved pregnancy outcome in immunized patients with RSA or previous failure to conceive with in vitro fertilization may be partially or possibly completely explained by its stimulatory effect on PIBF.
Check
J H
JH
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Camden, USA.
Arwitz
M
M
Gross
J
J
Peymer
M
M
Szekeres-Bartho
J
J
D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000276:immunology; D019264:Adoptive Transfer; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007519:Isoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000187:drug effects; D013491:Suppressor Factors, Immunologic / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood*
D007519:Isoantigens; C110058:PIBF1 protein, human; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D013491:Suppressor Factors, Immunologic; D011374:Progesterone