T-helper 1-type immunity to trophoblast in patients with recurrent spontaneous abortion

Objective:To test the hypothesis that peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in women with unexplained recurrent abortion (URA) produce T-helper 1 (Th1)-type cytokines in response to trophoblast antigens. Methods: A total of 25 women with URA and 15 reproductively normal parous control women participated the study. Supernatants from trophoblast-activatied PBMCs from all participants were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) for Th1-type cytokines [interleukin-2 (IL-2), interferon gamma (IFN-γ)] and Th2-type cytokines (IL-4,IL-10). Results: The levels of IL-2, IFN-γ in trophoblast-activitated PBMCs supernatants from URA patients were highr than those from reproductively normal women (P<0.05). In contrast, the supernatants from URA patients contained lower Th2-type cytokines (IL-4,IL- 10) (P<0.05). Conclusions: Whereas Th1-type immunity to trophoblast is assoicated with URA and may play a role in reproductive failure, Th2-type immunity may a natural response to trophoblast contributing to successful pregnancy.