title: A high dose of intravenous immunoglobulin increases CD94 expression on natural killer cells in women with recurrent spontaneous abortion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A high dose of intravenous immunoglobulin (HIVIg) therapy is effective in various diseases such as autoimmune diseases, and also is expected to have efficacy in recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA). The aim of this study was to understand immunological mechanisms of this therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  By flowcytometric analyses, we examined phenotypic changes of a variety of immunological cells including natural killer (NK) cells, cytotoxic T cells, regulatory T cells and macrophages in peripheral blood of RSA women with HIVIg therapy (n = 8).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Expression percentages of inhibitory CD94 on NK cells significantly (P = 0.01) increased after the therapy (58.8 +/- 21.4% versus 71.0 +/- 17.6%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mechanisms of possible efficacy of HIVIg therapy for RSA may include enhancement of CD94 expression and subsequent suppression of NK cell cytotoxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
authors.forename: Shigeki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shimada
authors.forename: Masamitsu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takeda
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nishihira
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaneuchi
authors.forename: Noriaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sakuragi
authors.forename: Hisanori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Minakami
authors.forename: Hideto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamada
mesh_terms: D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051920:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D051920:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D