[Study on the relationship between regulatory T cells and unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationship between CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+) regulatory T cells (CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+)Tr) and unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA).

METHODS

The expression rate of CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+)Tr in peripheral blood was determined by double-label flow cytometric analysis. The samples were taken from 20 normal non-pregnancy women, 17 URSA women and 20 normal pregnancy women.

RESULTS

The expression frequency of CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+)Tr cells was decreased significantly (P < 0.01) in URSA women [(11.9 +/- 2.7)%] than that in normal non-pregnancy women [(15.2 +/- 3.0)%], however, there was no significant difference between normal pregnancy women [(14.4 +/- 4.8)%] and normal non-pregnancy women (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that downregulation of CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+)Tr may be associated with URSA.