The Role of CD4(+)CD25(bright) Regulatory T Cells in the Maintenance of Pregnancy, Premature Rupture of Membranes, and Labor.
10.3349/ymj.2008.49.3.366
- Author:
Hyun Joo SEOL
1
;
Min Jeong OH
;
Ji Eun LIM
;
Nan Hee JUNG
;
Soo Young YOON
;
Hai Joong KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. haijkim@korea.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords:
Regulatory T cells;
pregnancy;
premature rupture of membranes
- MeSH:
Antigens, CD4/immunology;
Female;
Fetal Membranes, Premature Rupture/*immunology/physiopathology;
Gestational Age;
Humans;
Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit/*immunology;
Labor, Obstetric/*immunology/physiology;
Pregnancy;
T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/*immunology/physiology
- From:Yonsei Medical Journal
2008;49(3):366-371
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes of the regulatory T cell subset in peripheral blood caused by gestational age and premature rupture of membranes (PROM) with or without labor to verify the role of regulatory T cells in pregnancy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We investigated regulatory T cell distribution in the peripheral blood of pregnancies during the first trimester (group I, n=2), the second trimester (group II, n=12), and the third trimester without PROM and labor (group III, n=15). In addition, we evaluated pregnancies in the third trimester complicated by PROM (group IV, n=4) and labor with no complication by PROM (Group V, n=5). Comparisons were made with non-pregnant controls (group VI, n=4) using flow cytometry. RESULTS: During uncomplicated pregnancy, the CD4(+)CD25(bright) regulatory T cell population decreased with advancing gestational age (group I=3.35+/-0.47, group II=2.91+/-1.44, group III=2.81+/-1.36, group VI=2.52+/-0.71, p=NS). When we compared group IV with group III and V to evaluate the changes of the regulatory T cells with PROM, the CD4(+)CD25(bright) regulatory T cell population was significantly decreased in group IV compared to group III (p=0.001) and group V (p=0.026). CONCLUSION: The present results revealed that the regulatory T cell population increased in early pregnancy but decreased in pregnancies complicated by PROM, indicating that regulatory T cells might be related to the maintenance of pregnancy.
