Proportional change of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells after lymphocyte therapy in unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion patients.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the proportional changes of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells in peripheral blood after lymphocyte therapy in unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA) patients.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING

University Hospital.

PATIENT(S): Twenty-five URSA patients.

INTERVENTION(S): Measurements of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells in peripheral blood before and after paternal or third-party lymphocyte immunization.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The proportion of CD4(+)CD25(bright) regulatory T cells and the percentage of CD25(bright) cells in the CD4(+) T-cell population.

RESULT(S): The proportion of CD4(+)CD25(bright) T cells in peripheral blood from URSA patients was increased significantly after paternal or third-party lymphocyte immunization therapy, whereas the percentage of CD4(+)CD25(dim) cells were decreased significantly. The percentage of CD4(+)CD25(bright) cells in the CD4(+) T-cell population was significantly increased, and the proportion of CD4(+)CD25(bright) T cells was significantly higher in successfully pregnant women than in those with pregnancy loss after lymphocyte therapy.

CONCLUSION(S): Allogeneic lymphocyte therapy can enhance the percentage of CD4(+)CD25(bright) regulatory T cells in peripheral blood, therefore CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells may serve as a novel biomarker for monitoring allogeneic lymphocyte therapy in URSA patients.