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An Increase of T reg Cells in the Peripheral Blood is Associated with a Better In Vitro Fertilization Treatment Outcome
Author(s) -
Zhou Jianjun,
Wang Zhiqun,
Zhao Xia,
Wang Junxia,
Sun Haixiang,
Hu Yali
Publication year - 2012
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/j.1600-0897.2012.01153.x
Subject(s) - peripheral blood mononuclear cell , in vitro fertilisation , medicine , andrology , pregnancy , prospective cohort study , immunology , peripheral blood , in vitro , biology , biochemistry , genetics
Problem The objective of this study was to determine whether there was any association between the peripheral blood CD 4 + CD 25 + F oxp3 + regulatory T cells ( T reg cells) and implantation success in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization ( IVF ) treatment. Method of study Prospective observational study of 101 randomly selected women who underwent IVF treatment for tubal factor from M ay 2011 to June 2011. The percentage of peripheral blood T reg cells and the expression levels of F oxp3 and CTLA 4 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells ( PBMC s) were recorded and their relations to IVF treatment outcomes were analyzed. Results T reg cells were significantly elevated in the pregnant group ( P = 0.03). The expression level of F oxp3 mRNA in PBMC s from pregnant group also significantly increased ( P = 0.02). A receiver operating characteristic analysis (area under curve = 0.631) found that those women with T reg cells >0.6%, the pregnancy rate and live birth rate were much higher as compared to women with T reg cells below this level ( P < 0.05). An increase of T reg cells in the peripheral blood was associated with a better IVF treatment outcome ( OR 4.3, 95% CI = 1.76–10.48), with a sensitivity of 64%, specificity of 71%. Conclusion An elevated level of circulating T reg cells was associated with increased rates of pregnancy and live birth in IVF treatment.