Proportional change of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in decidua and peripheral blood in unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion patients.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the proportional changes of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells in peripheral blood and decidua in unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA) and normal pregnant (NP) women.


METHODS
Prospective, case-control study.


METHODS
Large public hospital in a major city in China.


METHODS
Twenty-five URSA patients and 34 normal, early pregnant, control women.


METHODS
Measurements of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells in decidua and peripheral blood.


METHODS
The proportion of CD4(+)CD25(bright) regulatory T cells; the percentage of CD25(bright) cells in the CD4(+) T-cell population.


RESULTS
The proportions of CD4(+)CD25(bright) T cells in both decidua and peripheral blood in URSA patients were statistically significantly lower than those in control women. Meanwhile, the percentage of CD25(bright) cells in the CD4(+) T-cell population in decidua was statistically significantly lower in URSA patients than in control women. The percentage of CD25(bright) cells in the CD4(+) T-cell population in decidua was statistically significantly higher than that in peripheral blood in control women, whereas the difference was not significant in patients who have URSA.


CONCLUSIONS
Human CD4(+)CD25(bright) T cells play a major role in tolerating conceptus antigens and therefore may contribute to the maintenance of pregnancy. The data suggest that CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells may be a novel target in URSA therapy.
Yang
Hui
H
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Qiu
Lihua
L
Chen
Guangjie
G
Ye
Zi
Z
Lü
Caijun
C
Lin
Qide
Q
D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China; D003656:Decidua / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000032:analysis*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit