Endometrial Leukocytes Are Altered Numerically and Functionally in Women with Implantation Defects

• Published in: American journal of reproductive immunology (1989) Vol. 39; no. 1; pp. 1 - 11
• Main Authors: Stewart-Akers, Ann M., Krasnow, Joel S., Brekosky, Jill, Deloia, Julie A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-01-1998; Blackwell
• Subjects: Autoimmune Diseases - complications; Autoimmune Diseases - pathology; Biological and medical sciences; Cytokines - biosynthesis; Diseases of mother, fetus and pregnancy; Embryo Implantation; Endometrial leukocytes; Endometrium - cytology; Endometrium - metabolism; Female; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Histocompatibility Antigens Class II - biosynthesis; Humans; Hyperthyroidism - complications; Hyperthyroidism - pathology; Hypothyroidism - complications; Hypothyroidism - pathology; Immunohistochemistry; Infertility, Female - etiology; Leukocytes - cytology; Leukocytes - metabolism; Leukocytes - physiology; Medical sciences; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Pregnancy. Fetus. Placenta; T cells; T-Lymphocytes - cytology; T-Lymphocytes - metabolism; T-Lymphocytes - physiology; Th2 cytokines; Thl cytokines; Thyroid Diseases - complications; Thyroid Diseases - immunology; Thyroid Diseases - pathology; Transcription, Genetic; Human; Pregnancy disorders; Leukocyte; Thyroid diseases; Autoimmune disease; Interleukin 4; Uterus; Ovum implantation; Female genital system; Interleukin 10; Transforming growth factor β1; Endometrium; Gamma interferon
• ISSN: 1046-7408; 1600-0897
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0897.1998.tb00326.x

PROBLEM: A significant cohort of women with autoimmune thyroid disease (ATD) also suffer from reduced fertility. The finding that neither exogenous hormones nor donor eggs correct the infertility suggests that the problem involves an inherent endometrial defect.
METHOD OF STUDY: Endometrial leukocyte populations in women with ATD were quantitated by immunohistochemistry. A semi‐quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) technique was used to examine the expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β1, interleukin (IL)‐4, IL‐10, and interferon (IFN)‐γ in the endometrial samples.
RESULTS: A significant increase in the endometrial T‐cell population was observed in women with ATD compared to controls. The relative abundance of IL‐4 and IL‐10 was decreased in women with ATD compared to controls, whereas IFN‐γ was increased. No difference was noted in the abundance of TGF‐β1. The source of cytokine production for IL‐4, IL‐10, and IFNγ was the endometrial leukocytes.
CONCLUSIONS: Both the leukocyte numbers and cytokine expression profile were altered significantly in a well‐defined group of women with implantation defects.