Gamma/deltaT-cell subsets, NKG2A expression and apoptosis of Vdelta2+ T cells in pregnant women with or without risk of premature pregnancy termination.
OBJECTIVE
Potentially cytotoxic Vdelta2+ T lymphocytes recognize human leukocyte antigen-E on the trophoblast via their CD94/NKG2A receptors. This study aims at determing the percentage of gamma/delta T-cell subsets, their NKG2A and Annexin V positivity in peripheral blood of healthy pregnant women and women at risk of premature pregnancy termination.


METHODS
Peripheral Vdelta2+ cells from healthy pregnant women and from women at risk of premature pregnancy termination were tested for the KIR NKG2A and Annexin V positivity by flow cytometry.


RESULTS
The percentage of viable Vdelta2+ T cells was higher, that of Vdelta1+ T cells was lower in women at risk of premature pregnancy termination than in healthy pregnant women. The percentage of NKG2A + Vdelta2+ T cells was significantly lower in pregnant women at risk of premature pregnancy termination than in normal pregnancy.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest the involvement of gamma/delta T lymphocytes in the pathogenesis of premature pregnancy termination.
Szereday
Laszlo
L
Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Pecs University Medical School, Pecs, Hungary.
Barakonyi
Aliz
A
Miko
Eva
E
Varga
Peter
P
Szekeres-Bartho
Julia
J
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000276:immunology*; D017209:Apoptosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000032:analysis; D055654:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C; D011247:Pregnancy; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D055607:Receptors, Natural Killer Cell; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*
D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; C527054:KLRC1 protein, human; D055654:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D055607:Receptors, Natural Killer Cell