Uterine natural killer cells dysregulation in idiopathic human preterm birth: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
To compare between uterine natural killer (uNK) cells in the placental samples of preterm birth and term labor.


METHODS
Two-arm case-control study. This study included 60 participants divided into two groups. The first group included 30 cases of idiopathic spontaneous preterm labor and the other group included 30 women who delivered by a spontaneous term vaginal delivery and with no history of previous preterm labor.


RESULTS
There were no CD16-CD56brightuNK cells in either groups; CD16+CD56dimuNK cells were present in only 1 case out of 30 term delivery placentae (3.3%), whereas they were found in 21 cases out of 30 (70%) preterm placental samples with a significant statistical difference (p < 0.0001) and OR 67.667, 95% CI (7.95-575.69). CD16+CD56dimuNK cells were found to be invading both the villi and the decidua in 11 cases (70%), whereas those cells were found invading only the villi in 10 cases (33.3%).


CONCLUSIONS
CD16+CD56dimcells are expressed in both the decidua and the villi of patients with idiopathic preterm labor suggesting an association between uNK cells dysregulation and idiopathic human preterm labor.
a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Ain Shams University , Cairo , Egypt and.
Mostafa Fouad
MF
Gomaa
a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Ain Shams University , Cairo , Egypt and.
Ihab Fouad
IF
Serag Eldeen
a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Ain Shams University , Cairo , Egypt and.
Laila Aly
LA
Farid
a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Ain Shams University , Cairo , Egypt and.
Mourad Mohey Eldeen
MME
El-Saeed
a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Ain Shams University , Cairo , Egypt and.
Ahmed Mohammed
AM
Abas
b Department of Pathology , Early Cancer Detection Unit, Ain Shams University , Cairo , Egypt.
Nahla Mohammad
NM
Aawd
D019002:CD56 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010920:Placenta / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000276:immunology*; D017452:Receptors, IgG / Q000032:analysis; D014599:Uterus / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology
D019002:CD56 Antigen; D017452:Receptors, IgG
Natural killer cells; preterm birth; reproductive immunology