Peripheral Blood Natural Killer Cells and Th1 Cytokines in Unexplained Female Infertility
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Abstract
Objectives: To compare the percentage and absolute numbers of peripheral blood (PB) natural killer (NK) cells and its subsets and levels of T helper cells 1 (TH1) cytokines [interferon-gamma (IFNγ) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα)] in women with unexplained infertility with that of healthy fertile women.
Materials and Methods: This was a three-year study which included 31 women with history of UI and 33 fertile controls. Flow cytometry was done on ethylene di-amine tetra-acetic acid samples to determine the percentage and absolute count of total PB NK cells and its subsets. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was done on serum samples for IFNγ and TNFα.
Results: The ratio of mean percentages of CD56dim and CD56bright NK cells [31.36 in patients vs 18.06 in controls (p = 0.034)], mean percentage of CD56+CD16+ NK cells [7.04 in patients vs 4.96 in controls (p = 0.034)] and CD56dim CD16+NK cells [81.02 in patients vs 60.49 in controls (p = 0.004)] was significantly increased in infertile women compared to fertile women. The percentage and absolute count of CD56+CD16- NK cells [p = 0.017 and p = 0.022, respectively] and CD56dimCD16- NK cells [p = 0.002 and p = 0.02, respectively] was significantly raised in fertile controls compared to infertile patients. Mean percentage of total PB NK cells, mean percentage and absolute count of CD56bright, CD56dim, CD56brightCD16+, CD56brightCD16-NK cells and mean serum levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ in infertile groups were higher but not significant compared to fertile group.
Conclusion: CD56+CD16+ NK cells which constitute the major population of PB NK cells and its major subset, CD56dim CD16+ NK cells was significantly raised in unexplained infertile women.
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