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. 2014 Apr;8(1):59-66.
Epub 2014 Mar 9.

Variations in T-helper 17 and Regulatory T Cells during The Menstrual Cycle in Peripheral Blood of Women with Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion

Nasrin Sereshki  1 , Marjan Gharagozloo  1 , Vajihe Ostadi  1 , Ataollah Ghahiri  2 , Mohammad Ali Roghaei  2 , Ferdos Mehrabian  2 , Alireza Andalib Andalib  1 , Akbar Hassanzadeh  3 , Habibolla Hosseini  4 , Abbas Rezaei  1
Affiliations

Variations in T-helper 17 and Regulatory T Cells during The Menstrual Cycle in Peripheral Blood of Women with Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion

Nasrin Sereshki et al. Int J Fertil Steril. 2014 Apr.

Abstract

Background: Disorders in immune system regulation may result in pregnancy abnormalities such as recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA). This study aims to determine the ratio of regulatory T (Treg) and T helper (Th) 17 cells in unexplained RSA (URSA) women during proliferative and secretory phases of their menstrual cycles compared to healthy non-pregnant women.

Materials and methods: In this case control study, 25 women with URSA and 35 healthy, non-pregnant women were enrolled. The percentage of Th17 and Treg cells in participants peripheral blood were determined by flow cytometry.

Results: The percentage of Th17 cells and their related cytokines in serum (IL-17A) were higher in the proliferative and secretory phases of the menstrual cycles of URSA women compared to the control women. However, a lower percentage of Treg cells and their related cytokines in serum, transforming growth factor (TGF) β1 and interleukin (IL)-10 were detected in the proliferative but not the secretory phase of the URSA group. The ratio of Th17/CD4+ Treg was higher in the URSA group than the control group. We observed an increased ratio of Th17/CD4+ Treg during the proliferative and secretory phases in URSA women.

Conclusion: The imbalance between Th17 and Treg cells during the proliferative phase of menstrual cycles in the URSA group may be considered a cause for spontaneous abortion.

Keywords: Menstrual Cycle; Pregnancy; Regulatory T Cells; T Helper 17.

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Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1
Representative flow cytometry dot plots of TH17 (CD4+ IL-17A+ ) and Treg (CD4+ FOXP3+ ) in unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA) and healthy, normal women. Plots shown were gated on CD4+ lymphocytes. The percentage of cells falling into the respective quadrants is indicated in each plot. *; Considered significant compared with the control group according to independent sample t test and p=0.001
Fig 2
Fig 2
TH17/CD4+ Treg ratio in RSA and normal women. *; Considered significant in comparison with control (used sta- tistical test is independent sample t test and p value=0.001).
Fig 3
Fig 3
TH17/CD4+ Treg ratio in proliferative and secretory phase in RSA and normalwomen. *; Considered significant in comparison with control (the used statistical test is independent sample t test and p value in secretory phase=0.008 and in proliferative phase, p value=0.06).
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