Effects of aspirin, vitamin D3, and progesterone on pregnancy outcomes in an autoimmune recurrent spontaneous abortion model

• Published in: Brazilian journal of medical and biological research Vol. 54; no. 9; pp. 1 - e9570
• Main Authors: Chen, Yihong, Wu, Qiumei, Wei, Juanbing, Hu, Jifen, Zheng, Shan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ribeirao Preto Associacao Brasileira de Divulgacao Cientifica (ABDC) 01-01-2021; Revista Brasileira de Pesquisas Medicas; Associação Brasileira de Divulgação Científica
• Subjects: Abortion; Antibodies; Aspirin; Autoimmune RSA; BIOLOGY; Cardiolipin; CD25 antigen; CD4 antigen; CD45 antigen; Cytokines; Diphosphatidylglycerol; Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; Flow cytometry; Foxp3 protein; Health aspects; Helper cells; Immunological tolerance; Interferon; Interleukin 6; Lymphocytes T; MEDICINE, RESEARCH & EXPERIMENTAL; Membrane lipids; Miscarriage; Placenta; Pregnancy; Pregnant women; Progesterone; Serum levels; Viral antibodies; Vitamin D3; Vitamins; China; Autoimmune RSA; Vitamin D3; Aspirin; Progesterone; Cytokines
• ISSN: 0100-879X; 1414-431X; 1414-431X; 1678-4510
• DOI: 10.1590/1414-431X2020e9570

High proportions of placental lymphocytes expressing DX5+/CD25+/FOXP3+/CD45+/CD4+ are beneficial to maintain immune tolerance and improve pregnancy outcomes. This study aimed to compare and evaluate the therapeutic effects of aspirin, vitamin D3 (VitD3), and progesterone on the autoimmune recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) model. The autoimmune RSA mouse model was constructed, and the embryo loss rate was calculated for each group. Then, primary mouse placental lymphocytes were isolated, and the expression of DX5+/CD25+/FOXP3+/CD45+/CD4+ was detected through flow cytometry. The serum levels of anti-cardiolipin antibody (ACA), [beta]2-GP1, CXCL6, IFN-[gamma], and IL-6 were measured by ELISA to evaluate the proportion of Th1 and Th2 cells. Autoimmune RSA significantly increased the embryo loss rate, which was improved by aspirin, VitD3, and progesterone treatment, and progesterone treatment had the best effect among the three treatments. The positive expression of DX5+/CD25+/FOXP3+/CD45+/CD4+ in the VitD3 and progesterone groups was significantly higher than that in the autoimmune RSA group, and the expression was highest in the progesterone treatment group. In the plasma of autoimmune RSA mice, the ACA, [beta]2-GP1, CXCL6, and IFN-[gamma] levels were significantly higher and the IL-6 level was lower than the levels in control mice. All these changes could be reversed by aspirin and progesterone treatment. In conclusion, aspirin, VitD3 and progesterone treatment improved pregnancy outcomes in autoimmune RSA mice by regulating the Th1/Th2 balance and cytokines, and progesterone had the best effect of the three treatments. Key words: Autoimmune RSA; Cytokines; Aspirin; Vitamin D3; Progesterone