[Study on the expression of transcription factor GATA-3 and T-bet mRNA in decidua of women with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the roles of transcription factor GATA-3 and T-bet at the fetal-maternal interface in the pathogenesis of unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA).

METHODS

The expression of GATA-3 and T-bet mRNA was examined by in situ hybridization. Decidua was obtained from 20 women with URSA and 20 normal pregnant (NP) women.

RESULTS

(1) The number of GATA-3 positive cells per high power field in women with URSA (25 +/- 16) was significantly lower than those in NP women (38 +/- 16) (P < 0.05). (2) The number of T-bet positive cells per high power field in women with URSA (59 +/- 17) was significantly higher than those in NP women (46 +/- 18) (P < 0.05). (3) Numbers of cells expressing GATA-3 mRNA correlated significantly with T-bet mRNA positive cell numbers in decidua (r = -0.55, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The results demonstrate that upregulated expression of T-bet and downregulated expression of GATA-3 are found in the decidua of women with URSA. Imbalance of GATA-3/T-bet transcription factors might interfere with type 1 helper T cell (Th1)/type 2 helper T cell (Th2) differentiation at the fetal-maternal interface and cause URSA.