Immunophenotypes detection of peripheral nature killer cells in patients with recurrent spontaneous abortion

Abstract

Objective To determine the immunophenotypes of peripheral nature killer (NK) cells in patients with recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA). Methods Flow cytometry was used to determine the expressions of CD56dimCD16+, CD56brightD16+/-, CD69+ and HLA-DR+ NK cells in peripheral blood samples from 27 pregnant and 41 non-pregnant RSA patients, 32 normal pregnant and 25 non-pregnant women, and the expressions were compared among 4 groups. Results The percentage of total peripheral NK cells from pregnant and non-pregnant RSA women, normal pregnant and non-pregnant women was (88.69± 5.86)％, (79.25±9.31 )％, (79.24±10.09)％ and (75.49±11.96)％, respectively, for CD56dimCD16+ NK cells; (8.18 ± 5.54)％ , (12.20 ± 6.49)％ , (13.13 ± 8.65)％ and (11.53 ± 6.23)％ , respectively, for CD56brightCD16+/- NK cells; (3.42±2.13)％ , (2.36± 1.72)％, (2.68± 1.81)％ and (2.08± 1.73)％ ,respectively, for CD69+ NK cells; (15.26±9.32)％, (9.96±7.18)％, (10.57±8.05)％ and (9.64±6.12)％,respectively, for HLA-DR+ NK cells. Compared with non-pregnant RSA women, normal pregnant or non-pregnant women, pregnant RSA women showed significantly higher percentage of CD56dimCD16% CD69+ and HLA-DR+ NK cells (all P＜0.05). Compared with non-pregnant RSA and normal pregnant women, pregnant RSA women showed significantly lower percentage of CD56brightCD16+/- NK cells (both P＜0.05).Conclusions The increased expression of CD56dimCD16+, CD69+ and HLA-DR+ NK cells and decreased expression of CD56brightCD16+/- NK cells in peripheral blood of the RSA pregnant patients may play a role in the development and progression of RSA. Key words: Abortion, recurrent; Flow cytometry; Natural killer cells; Antigens, CD69; Histocompatibility antigens