Abstract
Background: Immunological failure during pregnancy is considered one of the etiologies of recurrent miscarriage (RM). The decreased production of mixed lymphocyte reaction-blocking factors (MLR-Bf) may play a major role in this condition. Lymphocyte immunotherapy (LIT), which induces the production of MLR-Bf, has been used in treating RM patients since 1984. However, the effectiveness of LIT is currently being heatedly debated. In addition to that, possible changes to the maternal immune system upon induced MLR-Bf production by LIT remains unclear.Objectives: To explore the possible impacts that MLR-Bf may have on the expression of immune biomarkers and pregnancy outcomes, and deduce whether the prevention of miscarriages is possible with LIT or MLR-Bf in RM patients.Materials and Methods: Women with previous early RM (eRM) were enrolled in this retrospective study after they got pregnant again. LIT was implemented before pregnancy and during the first trimester. MLR-Bf and immune biomarkers were checked as the clinical routine. Patients were followed up until 12 gestational weeks. Levels of immune biomarkers and successful pregnancy rates were compared between MLR-Bf− group and MLR-Bf+ group stratified by LIT. Independent associations between LIT, or MLR-Bf, and miscarriage were estimated. All data management and analysis were conducted using SPSS 20.0.Results: A total of 1,038 patients, 497 MLR-Bf− (49 cases accepted LIT), and 541 MLR-Bf+(463 cases induced by LIT) were included in the study. Percentage of lymphocytes, the ratio of CD4+ T cells/lymphocytes, and levels of some rheumatoid biomarkers (anti-U1-nRNP, anti-SAA-52kd, and anti-CENOP B) were statistically higher in MLR-Bf+ group than in MLR-Bf− group among women without LIT. With LIT treatment the successful pregnancy rate was statistically higher in MLR-Bf+ group than in MLR-Bf− group (66.7% vs. 51.0%, P = 0.028) among women with LIT. Meanwhile, LIT was estimated to have an independent negative association with miscarriage.Conclusion: Upon LIT treament levels of immune biomarkers were different in women with and without MLR-Bf when stratified by whether they received LIT. Not MLR-Bf, but LIT, has an independent protective effect on miscarriage.
Highlights
Recurrent miscarriage (RM) is one of the reproductive disorders
During the period fixed for this study, a total of 2,286 women with Early recurrent miscarriage (eRM) had been admitted to our hospital, and 1,038 of them were included in this retrospective cohort study based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria described (Figure 1)
It was discovered that levels of immune biomarkers such as percentage of lymphocytes, the ratio of CD4+ T cells/lymphocytes, Anti-SSA-60kd, and anti-CENOP B were higher in women with naturally produced mixed lymphocyte reaction-blocking factors (MLR-Bf), and the percentage of CIK
Summary
Recurrent miscarriage (RM) is one of the reproductive disorders. In China, it is defined as two or more consecutive pregnancy losses before 28 weeks of gestation. It is broadly accepted that uRM, especially eRM is mainly caused by a defective maternal immune reaction to the fetus [5], with one of the etiologies believed to be decreased production of mixed lymphocyte reaction-blocking factors (MLR-Bf) [6, 7]. Immune lymphocyte therapy (LIT) is an effective treatment for uRM, as it leads to the production of MLRBf [14,15,16]. This study is designed to elucidate the possible effects of MLR-Bf on the expression of immune biomarkers and pregnancy outcomes and deduce whether LIT or positive MLR-Bf can prevent miscarriages in patients with RM. Lymphocyte immunotherapy (LIT), which induces the production of MLR-Bf, has been used in treating RM patients since 1984. Possible changes to the maternal immune system upon induced MLR-Bf production by LIT remains unclear
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