Premium
Human chorionic gonadotropin potentially affects pregnancy outcome in women with recurrent implantation failure by regulating the homing preference of regulatory T cells
Author(s) -
Diao LiangHui,
Li GuanGui,
Zhu YuanChang,
Tu WenWei,
Huang ChunYu,
Lian RuoChun,
Chen Xian,
Li YuYe,
Zhang Tao,
Huang Yong,
Zeng Yong
Publication year - 2017
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 - 10.1111/aji.12618
Subject(s) - foxp3 , human chorionic gonadotropin , flow cytometry , cd28 , medicine , immunology , cd3 , andrology , immune system , cd8 , biology , endocrinology , hormone
Problem Human chorionic gonadotropin ( hCG ) and regulatory T cells (Tregs) have been suggested to play important roles during the initial stage of pregnancy. However, the clinical relevance and mechanism of the effects of hCG on Treg functions in women with recurrent implantation failure ( RIF ) remain to be elucidated. Method of study Thirty‐four RIF and twenty‐three control women were included in the study. Endometrial and peripheral Tregs were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry, respectively. Tregs were generated from naïve CD 4 + T cells by stimulation with anti‐ CD 3/ CD 28 in the presence or absence of hCG , and the subsets were analyzed by flow cytometry, Western blotting, and qPCR . Results The percentages of endometrial FOXP 3 + Tregs and peripheral CCR 4 + FOXP 3 + Tregs were significantly lower in the women with RIF than in the healthy controls. In addition, the percentages of CCR 4 + FOXP 3 + Tregs and TGF ‐β‐expressing FOXP 3 + Tregs were increased following the stimulation of naïve CD4 + T cells with anti‐ CD 3/ CD 28, and these increases were concomitant with AKT and ERK dephosphorylation. Conclusions The results of this study provide novel evidence supporting a role of hCG in regulating the differentiation of peripheral FOXP 3 + Tregs. The alterations of circulating Tregs may positively affect the pregnancy outcomes of patients with a history of RIF .