[Expression of T-lymphocytes and cytokines in the decidua of mifepristone with misoprostol for terminating early pregnancy].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the expression of T-lymphocyte subsets (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+), natural killer cells (NK cells, CD56+, CD16+), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) in mifepristone and misoprostod treated ducidua for terminating human early pregnancy.

METHODS

Thirty eight women who volunteered to terminate their pregnancy were divided into 3 groups: mifepristone group (group I, n = 13), mifepristone with misoprostol group (group II, n = 12) and control group (group Il, n = 13), The expression of T-lymphocyte subsets, NK cells, TNF-alpha and TGF-beta were assessed by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

The expression of CD4+ were (30.91 +/- 2.57)% and (31.58 +/- 3.28)% in group I and II respectively. Which were significantly higher than that in group III (25.64 +/- 2.36)% (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). CD56+ were (22.40 +/- 2.77)% and (26.88 +/- 3.79)% in group I and II, which were significantly higher than that in group III (18.58 +/- 4.04)% (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), CD16+ were (8.98 +/- 2.18)% and (10.84 +/- 2.51)% in group I and II, which were significantly higher than that in group III (6.34 +/- 2.01)% (P < 0.01, P < 0.001). The expression of TNF-alpha in group I and II were higher than that of group III, TGF-beta in group I and II were lower than that of group III, but there was no significant difference (P > 0.05). The expression of CD3+, CD8+, CD4+/ CD8+ ratio were not significant difference among the three groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Mifepristone with misoprostol for terminating early pnegnancy might be affect the expression of lymphocyte and cytokines and induce the disorder of decidual micro-environment which might be the reason of medical abortion.