Distribution of Th1 and Th2 cell populations in human peripheral and decidual T cells from normal and anembryonic pregnancies.
OBJECTIVE
To examine whether maternal immune responses during normal pregnancy are Th2 biased and whether there are specific changes when anembryonic pregnancy occurs.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at a university hospital.


METHODS
We studied 32 pregnant women receiving elective abortions of normal pregnancies and 35 women with anembryonic pregnancies between 6 weeks and 10 weeks of gestational age.


METHODS
Using the multilabeling capability of three-color flow cytometry, it is possible to measure intracellular cytokines and cell surface markers simultaneously to determine which cells are the cytokine-producing cells.


METHODS
We examined the extent and proportion of mononuclear cells expressing specific T-cell surface markers and cytokines, interferon gamma, and interleukin 4 in the peripheral blood and deciduae. Secreted cytokines in the supernatants after 24-hour culture were also compared.


RESULTS
During the unstimulated status, the proportion of IL-4-secreting cells significantly exceeded that of IFN-gamma-secreting cells in the peripheral blood and decidua in normal pregnancies and was significantly decreased when anembryonic pregnancies occurred. Consequently, the Th1/Th2 ratios were increased during anembryonic pregnancies. However, after 24-hour culture, only another Th2-type cytokine, IL-10, was markedly increased and exceeded IFN-gamma secretion in cultures from both the peripheral blood and decidua in normal pregnancies.


CONCLUSIONS
The decidual T lymphocytes are Th2 predominant. When anembryonic pregnancy occurs, this Th2 predominance disappears.
Ho
H N
HN
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine and Hospital, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China. hnho@ha.mc.ntu.edu.tw
Chao
K H
KH
Chen
H F
HF
Chen
S U
SU
Wu
M Y
MY
Yang
Y S
YS
D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003656:Decidua / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000473:pathology*
D016207:Cytokines