Nayoung Sung

Humoral and cellular autoimmunity in women with recurrent pregnancy losses and repeated implantation failures: A possible role of vitamin D.

Women with recurrent pregnancy losses (RPL) and repeated implantation failures (RIF) have auto- and cellular immune abnormalities. Approximately, 20% of women with RPL have autoimmune abnormalities, particularly antiphospholipid antibodies (APA). In addition, these women have a higher prevalence of antinuclear antibody, anti-thyroperoxidase and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies, and other non-organ-specific autoantibodies. In women with RPL, the presence of autoimmunity is often associated with cellular immune abnormalities, such as increased NK cell levels and Th1/Th2 cell ratios. Vitamin D (VD) plays a major role in regulation of auto- and cellular immune abnormalities. VD deficiency is prevalent in women with RPL, and women with VD deficiency have increased auto- and cellular immune abnormalities as compared with women with normal VD levels. VD has immune regulatory effects on various immune effectors including T, B and NK cells. Potential therapeutic application of VD for RPL and RIF with auto- and cellular immune abnormalities should be explored.

Recurrent Pregnancy Loss in Women with Killer Cell Immunoglobulin-Like Receptor KIR2DS1 is Associated with an Increased HLA-C2 Allelic Frequency

During human pregnancy, the uterine lining is highly populated with killer‐immunoglobulin‐like receptor (KIR)‐expressing NK cells that recognize HLA‐C molecules on trophoblast cells. The goal of this study was to analyze the KIR gene contents and frequencies in a N. American cohort of women with RPL of unknown etiology to evaluate whether there is a genetic susceptibility to RPL based on a womans KIR repertoire and her HLA‐C group, as well as the HLA‐C group of the partner.

Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 4G/5G Polymorphism is Associated with Reproductive Failure: Metabolic, Hormonal, and Immune Profiles.

Association between PAI‐1 4G/5G polymorphism and reproductive failures has been postulated. We aimed to investigate its impact on metabolic, hormonal, and immune profiles of women with reproductive failures.

Low-dose prednisone and immunoglobulin G treatment for woman at risk for neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia and T helper 1 immunity

Fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia is an alloimmune disorder resulting from platelet opsonization by maternal antibodies that destroy fetal platelets. As there is no antenatal screening or immunization to prevent sensitization, selection of high‐risk population or the prevention of antenatal sensitization is significantly limited.

Gonadotropin‐releasing hormone analogues lead to pro‐inflammatory changes in T lymphocytes

We aimed to investigate the effect of gonadotropin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues on T‐cell immunity.

Deficiency in memory B cell compartment in a patient with infertility and recurrent pregnancy losses

Alterations in normal balance of B cell subsets have been reported in various rheumatic diseases. In this study, we report a woman with a history of recurrent pregnancy losses (RPL) and infertility who had low levels of memory B cells. A 35-year-old woman with a history of RPL and infertility was demonstrated to have increased peripheral blood CD19+ B cells with persistently low levels of memory B cell subsets. Prior to the frozen donor egg transfer cycle, prednisone and intravenous immunoglobulin G (IVIg) treatment was initiated and patient achieved dichorionic diamniotic twin pregnancies. During pregnancy, proportion (%) of switched memory B cells CD27+IgD- increased, while percent of total CD19+ B cells and CD27-IgD+ naive B cells were gradually decreased with a high dose IVIg treatment. She developed cervical incompetence at 20 weeks of gestation, received a Cesarean section at 32 weeks of gestation due to preterm labor, and delivered twin babies. B cell subset abnormalities may be associated with infertility, RPL and preterm labor, and further investigation is needed.