title: Humoral and cellular autoimmunity in women with recurrent pregnancy losses and repeated implantation failures: A possible role of vitamin D.
abstract: Women with recurrent pregnancy losses (RPL) and repeated implantation failures (RIF) have auto- and cellular immune abnormalities. Approximately, 20% of women with RPL have autoimmune abnormalities, particularly antiphospholipid antibodies (APA). In addition, these women have a higher prevalence of antinuclear antibody, anti-thyroperoxidase and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies, and other non-organ-specific autoantibodies. In women with RPL, the presence of autoimmunity is often associated with cellular immune abnormalities, such as increased NK cell levels and Th1/Th2 cell ratios. Vitamin D (VD) plays a major role in regulation of auto- and cellular immune abnormalities. VD deficiency is prevalent in women with RPL, and women with VD deficiency have increased auto- and cellular immune abnormalities as compared with women with normal VD levels. VD has immune regulatory effects on various immune effectors including T, B and NK cells. Potential therapeutic application of VD for RPL and RIF with auto- and cellular immune abnormalities should be explored.
authors: Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Vernon Hills, IL, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL, USA. Electronic address: joanne.kwakkim@rosalindfranklin.edu.
authors: Joanne
authors: J
authors: Kwak-Kim
authors: Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Vernon Hills, IL, USA.
authors: Annie
authors: A
authors: Skariah
authors: Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Vernon Hills, IL, USA.
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Wu
authors: Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Vernon Hills, IL, USA.
authors: Dinorah
authors: D
authors: Salazar
authors: Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Vernon Hills, IL, USA.
authors: Nayoung
authors: N
authors: Sung
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nasu Red Cross Hospital, Otawara, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan.
authors: Kuniaki
authors: K
authors: Ota
mesh_terms: D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D015551:Autoimmunity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D056724:Immunity, Humoral; D011247:Pregnancy; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000502:physiology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000502:physiology; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000502:physiology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D
keywords: Antiphospholipid antibody; Autoimmunity; NK cells; Recurrent pregnancy losses; Repeated implantation failures; Th1/Th2