Comprehensive analysis of peripheral blood lymphocytes in 76 women with recurrent miscarriage before and after lymphocyte immunotherapy

Abstract

Problem: The efficacy of lymphocyte immunotherapy (LIT) for unexplained recurrent miscarriage (uRM) remains indefinite. The objective of the present study is to comprehensively evaluate the alterations in the proportions and functions of peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients with uRM before and after LIT.

Method of study: Seventy-six women with uRM were included in the present study. Immunophenotype of peripheral blood lymphocytes (76 patients), NK cytotoxicity (62 patients) and Th1 (IFN-γ and TNF-α)/Th2 (IL-10) ratios (73 patients) were assessed during the luteal phase before LIT and after the third LIT by the flow cytometer.

Results: To date, 29 patients had already delivered or been pregnant more than 20 weeks (successful pregnancy group) and 5 patients experienced subsequent abortion (abortion group). The percentages of CD3(+) T cell, CD3(+) CD4(+) T cell and IL-10-producing Th1 cell were significantly increased, whereas the percentages of CD3(+) HLA-DR(+) T cell, CD56(+) CD3(-) NK cell and CD56(dim ) CD16(+) NK cell, the NK cytotoxicity and the ratios of Th1/Th2 were significantly decreased after LIT in the total patients and in the successful pregnant group. The percentages of CD56(+ ) CD3(-) NK cell and IFN-γ-producing cell, and the ratio of IFN-γ/IL-10 were significantly lower after LIT in the successful pregnant group compared to those in the abortion group.

Conclusions: LIT alters the proportions and functions of most peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets. Some of these alterations may be beneficial for pregnancy maintenance, whereas some may be potential markers for predicting subsequent abortion.