Expression of CD28 and cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 at the maternal-fetal interface in women with unexplained pregnancy loss.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of CD28 and CTLA-4, two costimulatory molecules involved in T-cell activation at the maternal-fetal interface in women with unexplained pregnancy loss.


METHODS
A total of 57 women, 39 with unexplained spontaneous abortion (SA) and 18 with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA), were enrolled in the study. A high-resolution spectratyping analysis of fluorescent bands was performed to detect CD28 and CTLA-4 expression in decidual tissues.


RESULTS
The mean expression of CTLA-4 mRNA was significantly higher in women with SA than in controls (P<0.05). Moreover, the expression of CTLA-4 was higher in SA patients with genotype AA and phenotype A+ (AA+AG) than in controls (P<0.01). The expression of CTLA-4 was not significantly different in patients with RSA and in controls. The expression of CD28 was significantly decreased in patients with RSA (P<0.01) and SA (P<0.05) compared with controls. The mean ratios of CTLA-4/CD28 were significantly higher in patients with RSA (P<0.01) and SA (P<0.05) than in controls.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that an imbalance in CTLA-4/CD28 expression or suppressed T-cell activity at the maternal-fetal interface may confer susceptibility to unexplained pregnancy loss.
Wang
Xipeng
X
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Ma
Zhengwen
Z
Hong
Yan
Y
Lu
Peihua
P
Lin
Qide
Q
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000235:genetics*; D018106:CD28 Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D010641:Phenotype; D021041:Placental Circulation / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012008:Recurrence
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D018106:CD28 Antigens; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; C556706:CTLA4 protein, human