[The measurement of proportion and function of regulatory T cells in unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the proportion and function of CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+) regulatory T cells (CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+) Tr) in unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA).


METHODS
(1) Proportion measurement: the proportion of CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+) Tr cells in peripheral blood was measured by double-label flow cytometric analysis. The samples were taken from 15 URSA women, 15 normal non-pregnancy women and 13 normal pregnancy women. (2) Function measurement: CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+) Tr cells and CD(4)(+)CD(25)(-) T cells were extracted from peripheral blood lymphocytes by the microbeads separation. The purity of CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+) Tr cells and CD(4)(+)CD(25)(-) T cells was measured by flow cytometry. The growth inhibitory effect of CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+) Tr cells on CD(4)(+)CD(25)(-) T cells was assessed in vitro.


RESULTS
The proportion of CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+) Tr cells was decreased significantly in URSA women (6.9 +/- 1.8)% than that in normal non-pregnancy women [(10.8 +/- 1.1)%] (P<0.05) and normal pregnancy women [(11.2 +/- 1.4)%] (P<0.01). Moreover, the suppressive rate of CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+) Tr cells was decreased significantly in URSA women (75 +/- 6)% than that in normal non-pregnancy women [(89 +/- 4)%] (P<0.05) and normal pregnancy women [(90 +/- 4)%] (P<0.01). However, with respect to the proportion and function of CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+) Tr cells, there was no significant difference between normal non-pregnancy women and normal pregnancy women (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that decrease in proportion and function of CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+) Tr cells may be associated with URSA.
Liu
Yu-sheng
YS
Reproductive Medicine Center Provincial Hospital, Affiliated to Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230001, China.
Zhao
Shu-yun
SY
Ji
Jing-juan
JJ
Zhai
Zhi-min
ZM
Tong
Xian-hong
XH
Luo
Li-hua
LH
Luan
Hong-bing
HB
D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D011247:Pregnancy; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology
D015704:CD4 Antigens; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2