Circulating Interferon‐γ‐ and Interleukin‐4‐Secreting Cells in Recurrent Spontaneous Abortions

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Abstract
PROBLEM: Are recurrent spontaneous abortions (RSAs) associated with deviation of circulating cytokine‐secreting cells?METHOD OF STUDY: Interferon (IFN)‐γ‐ and interleukin (IL)‐4‐secreting cells were identified by enzyme‐linked immunospot (ELISPOT) in blood from 34 women with RSA. Samples were taken before pregnancy and/or pregnancy weeks 7–10, 17–20, and after terminated pregnancy. Eleven healthy primigravidae and 10 nonpregnant women served as controls.RESULTS: No significant difference in numbers of IFN‐γ‐ and IL‐4‐secreting cells was noted within the RSA group when abortions and successful pregnancies were compared in samples taken before pregnancy. The number of IFN‐γ‐ as well as IL‐4‐secreting cells in pregnancy weeks 17–20 in the RSA group was significantly higher compared with before pregnancy, pregnancy weeks 7–10, and after pregnancy. In samples from non‐pregnant women, the number of IFN‐γ‐ and IL‐4‐secreting cells was significantly higher in the RSA group compared with controls.CONCLUSIONS: Our results do not indicate a systemic shift in the general balance between T helper 1‐ and T helper 2‐type cytokine pattern. A local shift at the fetomaternal interface seems more probable.