Increased T helper 1 cytokine responses by circulating T cells are present in women with recurrent pregnancy losses and in infertile women with multiple implantation failures after IVF.
BACKGROUND
We aimed to study T-helper 1 (Th1) and Th2 intracellular cytokine expression in peripheral blood lymphocytes of women with recurrent spontaneous abortions (RSA) or infertility with multiple implantation failures after IVF cycles.


METHODS
Twenty-six women with three or more RSA and 23 with two or more IVF failures (14 with no history of spontaneous abortion (SAB) and nine with more than one SAB) comprised the two study groups. Twenty-one non-pregnant healthy multiparous women served as controls. Proportions (%) of lymphocytes containing IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-4 and IL-10 and the Th1/Th2 ratios of IFN-gamma/IL-4, IFN-gamma/IL-10, TNF-alpha/IL-4 and TNF-alpha/IL-10 in CD3+, CD3+/CD8- (T helper) and CD3+/CD8+ (T suppressor) cells were measured by 4-colour flow cytometry.


RESULTS
RSA women demonstrated significantly higher Th1/Th2 ratios of IFN-gamma/IL-4 (P < 0.01), TNF-alpha/IL-4 and TNF-alpha/IL-10 (P < 0.05 each) in CD3+/CD8- T helper cells than those of controls. The proportion of TNF-alpha producing CD3+/CD8- cells (P < 0.05), and the Th1/Th2 ratios of TNF-alpha/IL-4 (P < 0.05) and TNF-alpha/IL-10 (P < 0.005) in CD3+/CD8- cells were significantly higher in women with multiple IVF failures without SAB as compared with those of controls.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of dominant Th1 immune responses in peripheral blood lymphocytes may reflect the systemic contribution of Th1 cytokines to RSA or multiple implantation failures in IVF cycles.
Kwak-Kim
J Y H
JY
Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Finch University of Health Sciences/The Chicago Medical School, 3333 Green Bay Road, N Chicago, IL 60064, USA. Kwakj@finchcms.edu
Chung-Bang
H S
HS
Ng
S C
SC
Ntrivalas
E I
EI
Mangubat
C P
CP
Beaman
K D
KD
Beer
A E
AE
Gilman-Sachs
A
A
D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000473:pathology; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000032:analysis; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000097:blood*; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000378:metabolism; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D017211:Treatment Failure
D017252:CD3 Complex; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D016207:Cytokines