Obstet Gynecol Sci.  2024 Jan;67(1):112-119. 10.5468/ogs.23120.

Association of recurrent implantation failure and recurrent pregnancy loss with peripheral blood natural killer cells and interferon-gamma level

• Zargar M
• Ghafourian M
• Behrahi F
• Nikbakht R
• Salehi AM

• KMID: 2550492
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5468/ogs.23120

Abstract

Objective
Fetal uterine survival depends on maintaining an immune balance between the mother and fetus. This study aimed to investigate the correlation of blood peripheral natural killer (NK) cells and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) with recurrent recurrent implantation failure (RIF) and recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL).
Methods
In this case-control study, peripheral blood samples were obtained from three groups of RPL, RIF, and parous women without a history of abortion or infertility problems and analyzed by lymphocyte-based flow cytometry. Afterward, the levels of NK cells and IFN-γ were determined. All data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis tests.
Results
The level of IFN-γ in the RPL group was significantly higher than that in parous women and the RIF group (P<0.05), whereas its level in the RIF group was not significantly different from the control group (P>0.05). A significant correlation was found between the levels of IFN-γ and NK cells in the RPL group (r=0.481; P=0.02). However, no significant correlation was found between the levels of IFN-γ and the active NK cells in the RPL group (P=0.08). Moreover, no significant correlation was found between the levels of NK cells (whether activated or not) and IFN-γ in the RIF patients (P>0.05).
Conclusion
Immune dysfunction may not be involved in implantation failure during IVF but may be involved in recurrent miscarriage, probably by increasing IFN-γ levels.

Keyword

NK cells; Active NK cells; IFN-gamma; Recurrent pregnancy loss; Recurrent implantation failure

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 (A) Lymphocyte gates in the total cell population; (B) Isolation of NK cells (CD16+ and CD56+) from the rest of the lymphocyte population using conjugated monoclonal antibody with fluorescent materials specific for CD56 and CD16; (C) FMO control gating for CD16 to detect CD16+ cells area; (D) FMO control gating for CD69 to detect CD69+ cells area; (E) a test sample showing cell populations. Area Q1: CD69+ and CD56+; Area Q2: CD69+, CD16+, and CD56+; Area Q3: CD56+ and CD16+; Area Q4: CD56+, CD16-, and CD69-. SSC-H, side scatter height; FSC-H, forward scatter height; NK cells, natural killer cells; FMO, fluorescence minus one.

• 

  Fig. 2 Comparison of different levels of peripheral blood NK cells (A), activated NK cells (B), and IFN-γ (C) in various studied groups. *P-value <0.05 is significant. NK cells, natural killer cells; RIF, recurrent failure of implantation; RPL, pregnancy loss; IFN-γ,

Reference

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