Yuye Li

The pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine profile in peripheral blood of women with recurrent implantation failure

Limited information is available on the balance state of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in patients with recurrent implantation failure (RIF). This study assessed the pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in plasma of 34 patients with RIF, compared with those of 25 women with a successful pregnancy in the first IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection-embryo transfer (IVF/ICSI-ET) cycle. The IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-4 concentrations were higher, whereas the TGF-β1 concentration was lower in the RIF group compared with the control group. Furthermore, the ratios of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ/IL-4, IFN-γ/IL-10, IFN-γ/TGF-β1, IL-6/IL-10, IL-6/TGF-β1, IL-1β/TGF-β1 and TNF-α/TGF-β1 were higher in the RIF group (all P < 0.01). The results suggested a shift toward a pro-inflammatory state in peripheral blood of the patients with RIF.

Modulatory effects of vitamin D on peripheral cellular immunity in patients with recurrent miscarriage

We aimed to investigate the modulatory effects of vitamin D on peripheral blood cellular immune response in patients with recurrent miscarriage (RM).

Human chorionic gonadotropin potentially affects pregnancy outcome in women with recurrent implantation failure by regulating the homing preference of regulatory T cells.

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and regulatory T cells (Tregs) have been suggested to play important roles during the initial stage of pregnancy. However, the clinical relevance and mechanism of the effects of hCG on Treg functions in women with recurrent implantation failure (RIF) remain to be elucidated.

The role of decidual immune cells on human pregnancy

The maternal-fetal interface undergoes dynamic changes to allow the fetus to grow and develop in the uterus, despite being recognized by the maternal immune cells. Within the innate immune system, decidual natural killer cells and antigen presenting cells (including macrophages and dendritic cells) that comprise a large proportion of the decidual leukocyte populations play an important role in modulating trophoblast invasion, angiogenesis and vascular remodeling. On the other hand, within the adaptive immune system, CD8+ T cells, effector CD4+ T cells, Foxp3+ regulatory T cells and CD4+HLA-G+ suppressor T cells are identified as potential players in maintaining immune tolerance toward the semi-allogeneic fetus. This review discusses how these key immune cells contribute to pregnancy outcome and the complex interactions between the innate and adaptive immune system during human pregnancy.

Downregulation of ILT4+ dendritic cells in recurrent miscarriage and recurrent implantation failure

The role of ILT4+ DCs in healthy fertile controls and patients with recurrent miscarriages (RM) and recurrent implantation failure (RIF) is unclear.

Association of serum autoantibodies with pregnancy outcome of patients undergoing first IVF/ICSI treatment: A prospective cohort study

The relevance of antiphospholipid (aPL), antinuclear (ANA) or antithyroid (ATA) antibodies in women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) are controversial. The present study aims to investigate which autoantibodies are associated with the pregnancy outcome of patients undergoing first IVF/ICSI treatment. A total of 3763 IVF/ICSI patients were recruited from January to December 2015. Forty-five patients positive for aPL presenting adverse outcomes in their first cycle received low-dose aspirin treatment before the second transfer. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess any association between autoantibodies and IVF/ICSI outcomes. The aCL-IgG was significantly associated with live birth rate (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.36-0.96, p<0.05) and miscarriage rate (OR 2.04, 95% CI 1.23-3.40, p<0.01). The aCL-IgM was associated with miscarriage rate (OR 2.14, 95% CI 1.29-3.54, p<0.01). The aβ2GPI-IgG was associated with implantation rate and clinical pregnancy rate (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.24-0.96, p<0.05; OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.13-0.87, p<0.05, respectively). After the low-dose aspirin treatment, the live birth rate (37.0% vs. 19.1%, p<0.05) increased significantly in patients with positive for aPL. In contrary, the aβ2GPI-IgM, ANA, anti-thyroglobulin (aTG) and anti-thyroperoxidase (aTPO) antibodies had no association with IVF/ICSI outcome. It is suggested that the presence of aCL-IgG, aCL-IgM and aβ2GPI-IgG might exert a detrimental effect on IVF/ICSI outcomes. Low-dose aspirin treatment could be useful for patients positive for these antibodies. Therefore, it is suggested that these antibodies should be assessed prior to IVF/ICSI treatment.

Functional properties of peripheral CD8+ T cells in patients with repeated implantation failure

CD8+ T cells are the main candidates to recognize and respond to fetal HLA‐C at the fetal‐maternal interface, but data on the amount of peripheral CD8+ T cells and their functions during the window of implantation in recurrent implantation failure (RIF) patients are limited. Peripheral blood was obtained from 56 women with RIF and 16 fertile women in the mid‐luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, and the CD8+ T cells were determined by FACS analysis. No statistical differences in the proportion of peripheral CD8+ T cells were observed among the women with RIF and the control group. However, the levels of IFN‐γ+ and TNF‐α+ CD8+ T cells in the RIF group were significantly higher than those in the control group. The cytolytic activity and regulatory proportion of CD8+ T cells in RIF were similar to that in the control group. Our data indicated that the elevated expression levels of IFN‐γ and TNF‐α in peripheral CD8+ T cells may contribute to an impaired immune tolerance in women with RIF.