Secretion of interleukin-2 from unstimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells is a possible pathogenic mechanism in recurrent abortion.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to evaluate the activated status of helper T cells in women with recurrent abortion.


METHODS
The spontaneous secretion of interleukin (IL)-2 from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from 12 women with primary partner-specific recurrent abortion and 7 normal females and 10 normal males was measured.


RESULTS
IL-2 concentrations in medium conditioned with PBMCs from the recurrent abortion group were 1.44 +/- 0.32 (mean +/- standard deviation) U/ml, whereas those from the normal female and male groups were below the minimum detectable concentration.


CONCLUSIONS
The fact that PBMCs from recurrent aborters spontaneously secrete IL-2 suggests that helper T cells are activated in recurrent aborters.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Japan.
Y
Y
Hamai
T
T
Fujii
S
S
Kozuma
Y
Y
Shibata
Y
Y
Taketani
D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy
D007376:Interleukin-2