Repertoire and clonality of T-cell receptor beta variable genes expressed in endometrium and blood T cells of patients with recurrent spontaneous abortion.

PROBLEM: Recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) is a relatively common disorder, the underlying causes of which are thought to be immunological in most cases.

METHOD OF STUDY: Expression profile and clonality pattern of T-cell receptor beta variable (TCRBV) genes in endometrium and blood of patients with RSA were investigated by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using BV gene-specific primers. Relative expression of each BV family was determined and clonal expansion of the over-expressed genes was assessed by analysis of CDR3 length polymorphism.

RESULTS

Compared to blood, relative expression of four TCRBV genes was significantly higher in the endometrium of RSA group. Over-expressed genes, except for TCRBV3, all had restricted and oligoclonal patterns of expression in the endometrium.

CONCLUSION

Endometrial T cells have a skewed TCRBV repertoire with restricted transcript heterogeneity, which is shared by both groups and minor variations observed in this pattern in RSA patients may reflect more recent and/or repeated exposure to nominal antigens or superantigens.