A high dose of intravenous immunoglobulin increases CD94 expression on natural killer cells in women with recurrent spontaneous abortion.
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.
Shimada
Shigeki
S
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
Takeda
Masamitsu
M
Nishihira
Jun
J
Kaneuchi
Masanori
M
Sakuragi
Noriaki
N
Minakami
Hisanori
H
Yamada
Hideto
H
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
D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D051920:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D