Mitogen-induced cytokine responses of maternal peripheral blood lymphocytes indicate a differential Th-type bias in normal pregnancy and pregnancy failure.

PROBLEM: Profiles of Th1- and Th2-type cytokines were studied in women with a history of successful pregnancy and in women with a history of unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortions (RSA) with the objective of elucidating Th1- and Th2-type bias in normal pregnancy and pregnancy failure.

METHOD OF STUDY: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 54 women with a history of normal pregnancy and 23 women with a history of unexplained RSA, obtained at delivery or on the day of abortion, respectively, were stimulated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA), followed by the estimation of four Th2 cytokines and four Th1 cytokines.

RESULTS

Significantly greater levels of Th2 cytokines were produced by the normal group than by the RSA group. On the other hand, significantly higher levels of Th1 cytokines were produced by the RSA group than by the normal pregnancy group.

CONCLUSIONS

These data support the concept that unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion is associated with an increase in Th1-type reactivity, while Th2 dominance is a feature of successful pregnancy.