Intracellular cytokine expression of peripheral blood natural killer cell subsets in women with recurrent spontaneous abortions and implantation failures.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the cytokine expression by peripheral blood natural killer (NK) cells of women with recurrent spontaneous abortion (SAB) or implantation failures.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study.


METHODS
University clinic.


METHODS
Twenty-five women with recurrent SAB, 20 women with implantation failures, and 15 healthy controls.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
Cytokine expression (interferon-gamma, tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-alpha, interleukin [IL]-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-13, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor [GM-CSF]) in NK cells and their subsets (CD56(dim) and CD56(bright)).


RESULTS
Proportion (percentage) of CD56(bright)/interferon-gamma(+)/TNF-alpha(+) cells was significantly higher in women with recurrent SAB and implantation failures as compared with that of healthy controls. Proportion of CD56(bright)/IL-4(+)/IL-10(+) cells was very low (<2%) in all groups but was significantly lower in women with recurrent SAB than that of controls. The TNF-alpha/GM-CSF expressing CD56(bright) cell ratio was significantly higher in women with recurrent SAB and implantation failures than in controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Natural killer-1 shift in peripheral blood NK cells was identified in nonpregnant women with recurrent SAB and implantation failures. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha/GM-CSF expressing CD56(bright) cell ratio can be applicable for the diagnosis of recurrent SAB or implantation failures. Further studies are needed as to whether cytokine expression of NK cells during pregnancy can affect pregnancy outcome.
Fukui
Atsushi
A
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science/The Chicago Medical School, North Chicago, Illinois 60064, USA.
Kwak-Kim
Joanne
J
Ntrivalas
Evangelos
E
Gilman-Sachs
Alice
A
Lee
Sung-Ki
SK
Beaman
Kenneth
K
D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D019002:CD56 Antigen / Q000097:blood; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017211:Treatment Failure; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
D019002:CD56 Antigen; D016207:Cytokines; D007378:Interleukins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor