[Study on normal pregnancy and recurrent spontaneous abortions from helper T cell 1/helper T cell 2 cytokines balance].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the function of Th1 (IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha) and Th2 (IL-4, IL-10) cytokine balance in the maternal-fetal tolerance.


METHODS
The IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-4 and IL-10 mRNA were studied from PBMCs of 11 normal non-pregnancy control, 10 women in first trimester of normal pregnancy, 11 women in last trimester of normal pregnancy by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptional-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method.


RESULTS
(1) The IFN-gamma mRNA decreased [(24.68 +/- 5.55)%, P < 0.05], while the IL-10 mRNA rose [(20.72 +/- 5.36)%, P < 0.01] in normal pregnancy women compared with the non-pregnancy control [IFN-gamma(30.76 +/- 5.35)%, IL-10 (13.58 +/- 3.91)%]. (2) IL-10 mRNA decreased [(9.48 +/- 2.84)%, P < 0.05], while the IFN-gamma mRNA rose [(36.08 +/- 5.75)%, P < 0.05] in RSA women compared with the non-pregnancy control. (3) The IFN-gamma mRNA rose (P < 0.01), while the IL-10 mRNA decreased (P < 0.01) in RSA women compared with women in their first trimester of normal pregnancy [IFN-gamma(27.23 +/- 5.74)%, IL-10 (18.61 +/- 5.43)%].


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that women in normal pregnancy had mainly the Th2 cytokines. The breakage of the Th1/Th2 balance may result in RSA. The results provide clue that Th1/Th2 balance plays a role in maternal-fetal tolerance.
Ju
Z
Z
Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai 200025, China.
Fan
L
L
Lu
L
L
D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000276:immunology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000502:physiology*
D016207:Cytokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger