H N Ho1, K H Chao, H F Chen, S U Chen, M Y Wu, Y S Yang. 1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine and Hospital, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China. hnho@ha.mc.ntu.edu.tw
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine whether maternal immune responses during normal pregnancy are Th2 biased and whether there are specific changes when anembryonic pregnancy occurs. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at a university hospital. PATIENT(S): We studied 32 pregnant women receiving elective abortions of normal pregnancies and 35 women with anembryonic pregnancies between 6 weeks and 10 weeks of gestational age. INTERVENTION(S): Using the multilabeling capability of three-color flow cytometry, it is possible to measure intracellular cytokines and cell surface markers simultaneously to determine which cells are the cytokine-producing cells. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): We examined the extent and proportion of mononuclear cells expressing specific T-cell surface markers and cytokines, interferon gamma, and interleukin 4 in the peripheral blood and deciduae. Secreted cytokines in the supernatants after 24-hour culture were also compared. RESULT(S): During the unstimulated status, the proportion of IL-4-secreting cells significantly exceeded that of IFN-gamma-secreting cells in the peripheral blood and decidua in normal pregnancies and was significantly decreased when anembryonic pregnancies occurred. Consequently, the Th1/Th2 ratios were increased during anembryonic pregnancies. However, after 24-hour culture, only another Th2-type cytokine, IL-10, was markedly increased and exceeded IFN-gamma secretion in cultures from both the peripheral blood and decidua in normal pregnancies. CONCLUSION(S): The decidual T lymphocytes are Th2 predominant. When anembryonic pregnancy occurs, this Th2 predominance disappears.
OBJECTIVE: To examine whether maternal immune responses during normal pregnancy are Th2 biased and whether there are specific changes when anembryonic pregnancy occurs. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at a university hospital. PATIENT(S): We studied 32 pregnant women receiving elective abortions of normal pregnancies and 35 women with anembryonic pregnancies between 6 weeks and 10 weeks of gestational age. INTERVENTION(S): Using the multilabeling capability of three-color flow cytometry, it is possible to measure intracellular cytokines and cell surface markers simultaneously to determine which cells are the cytokine-producing cells. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): We examined the extent and proportion of mononuclear cells expressing specific T-cell surface markers and cytokines, interferon gamma, and interleukin 4 in the peripheral blood and deciduae. Secreted cytokines in the supernatants after 24-hour culture were also compared. RESULT(S): During the unstimulated status, the proportion of IL-4-secreting cells significantly exceeded that of IFN-gamma-secreting cells in the peripheral blood and decidua in normal pregnancies and was significantly decreased when anembryonic pregnancies occurred. Consequently, the Th1/Th2 ratios were increased during anembryonic pregnancies. However, after 24-hour culture, only another Th2-type cytokine, IL-10, was markedly increased and exceeded IFN-gamma secretion in cultures from both the peripheral blood and decidua in normal pregnancies. CONCLUSION(S): The decidual T lymphocytes are Th2 predominant. When anembryonic pregnancy occurs, this Th2 predominance disappears.
Authors: Dongming Lin; Mary Alice Smith; John Elter; Catherine Champagne; Christine Lynn Downey; James Beck; Steven Offenbacher Journal: Infect Immun Date: 2003-09 Impact factor: 3.441