Hidehiko Matsubayashi

Flow-cytometric analysis of immune cell populations in human decidua from various types of first-trimester pregnancy

We undertook an investigation in which flow cytometry was used to characterize immune cell populations in the decidua of first-trimester normal pregnancies, spontaneous abortions, and ectopic pregnancies in comparison to the nonpregnant endometrium to demonstrate how the proportions of immunocompetent cell populations at the fetomaternal interface are influenced by the presence and state of a fetoplacental allograft. No significant differences were found in the decidua of the different types of first-trimester pregnancy in the proportions of the CD45+, CD14+, CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD19+, CD3-/CD16+ and/or CD56+, CD3+/CD16+ and/or CD56+, CD4+/Leu-8+, CD4+/Leu-8-, CD8+/CD11b+, CD8+/CD11b-, and CD3+/HLA-DR- decidual leukocyte subsets. However, the percentage of decidual CD3+/HLA-DR+ cells, which are characteristic of activated T cells, was significantly higher in spontaneous abortions than in normal pregnancies (p less than 0.05). This suggests that the accumulation of decidual leukocytes may be regulated mainly by hormones and/or cytokines rather than by the presence and state of an intrauterine conceptus and that on/off-switching of activation of decidual T cells may be associated with successful maintenance of the implanted embryo.

Flow cytometric crossmatch and early pregnancy loss in women with a history of recurrent spontaneous abortions who underwent paternal leukocyte immunotherapy

OBJECTIVEnThe purpose of our study was to evaluate the clinical significance of flow cytometric crossmatch in managing women with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortions who have been immunized with paternal leukocytes.nnnSTUDY DESIGNnTwo-color flow cytometric crossmatch was performed after immunotherapy in 69 women with recurrent spontaneous abortions to detect maternal immunoglobulin G antibodies against paternal T lymphocytes. A positive flow cytometric crossmatch was determined by a > or = 20 channel increases (256 channel linear scale-log amplification) in the fluorescence intensity of the T-cell peak. We analyzed the clinical correlation between flow cytometric crossmatch results and subsequent pregnancy outcome in those patients using the Fisher exact test.nnnRESULTSnIn 46 subsequent pregnancies among 69 immunized women the incidence of early subsequent pregnancy wastage was only 6 (17.1%) of 35 in flow cytometric crossmatch-positive patients and 7 (63.6%) of 11 in flow cytometric crossmatch-negative patients (p < 0.01).nnnCONCLUSIONSnThese data indicate that a two-color T cell flow cytometric crossmatch predicts subsequent pregnancy outcome in patients undergoing immunotherapy for recurrent spontaneous abortion.

The Influence of Intravenous Immunoglobulin Treatment on Maternal Immunity in Women With Unexplained Recurrent Miscarriage

PROBLEM: Recently the protective value of high‐dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in the treatment of unexplained recurrent miscarriage has been reported to be similar to that of conventional immunotherapy with paternal leukocytes. We examined the effect of IVIG treatment on the cellular and humoral level of maternal immunity to demonstrate the possible mechanism by which IVIG might act to prevent recurrence of pregnancy loss.

Decreased factor XII activity is associated with recurrent IVF-ET failure.

A decrease in factor XII (FXII) activity has been observed in women with unexplained recurrent miscarriages. Because of the many similarities between recurrent in vitro fertilization‐embryo transfer (IVF‐ET) failure and early pregnancy loss patients, we investigated whether women with recurrent IVF‐ET failure had low FXII activity.

Leukocyte Subpopulation Changes in Rats With Autotransplanted Endometrium and the Effect of Danazol

PROBLEM: This study examines immune cell populations in rats with autotransplanted endometrium and determines the effect of danazol on leukocyte subsets.

Effects of Gonadotropin‐Releasing Hormone Agonist (GnRHa) and Ovariectomy on Leukocyte Subpopulations in Rats With Autotransplanted Endometrium

PROBLEM: To determine the effect of estrogen deficiency on populations of immune cells in rats with autotransplanted endometrium.