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No Difference in Natural‐killer‐T cell population, but Th2/Tc2 Predominance in Peripheral Blood of Recurrent Aborters
Author(s) -
Shimada Shigeki,
Iwabuchi Kazuya,
Kato Emi H.,
Morikawa Mamoru,
Sakuragi Noriaki,
Onoé Kazunori,
Minakami Hisanori,
Yamada Hideto
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
american journal of reproductive immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.071
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1600-0897
pISSN - 1046-7408
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0897.2003.00059.x
Subject(s) - natural killer t cell , cd8 , immunology , population , flow cytometry , biology , interferon gamma , cytotoxic t cell , cytokine , medicine , endocrinology , immune system , genetics , environmental health , in vitro
Problem: The aim of this study was to assess the natural‐killer‐T (NKT) cell population and cytokine expression in the peripheral blood of women with a history of recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA). Method of study: The percentages of CD3 + CD4 − CD8 − TCRV α 24 + V β 11 + ‐NKT cells and cells expressing intracellular interferon (IFN)‐ γ , interleukin (IL)‐4, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐ α either with CD4 + or CD8 + cells were measured by flow cytometry at the midluteal phases in 15 RSA women and 15 fertile control women. Results: No significant differences in the NKT cell percentages were found between RSA and control women. However, in RSA women, the CD4 + IL‐4 + cell and CD8 + IL‐4 + cell percentages were significantly higher, and the Th1/Th2 and Tc1/Tc2 cell ratios were significantly lower, than those in the control. Conclusions: Th2/Tc2 dominance was found in the general circulation of RSA women; this finding provokes a new controversy on the Th1/Th2 balance concerning RSA etiology.