Objective: To investigate the changes of serum T helper cell (TH)1/TH2 type cytokines after the active immunotherapy in unexplained habitual abortion (UHA) women.
Methods: Concentrations of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-12, interferon (IFN)-gamma, IL-4, IL-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta 1 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) method in sera from thirty-three cases of unexplained habitual abortion (UHA) women before and after active immunotherapy. Thirty normal non-pregnancy (NNP) women and thirty normal pregnancy (NP) women were taken as control.
Results: (1) Serum concentrations of IL-2 and IL-12 were higher significantly (P < 0.01) in UHA women [(13.3 +/- 13.8) ng/L and (50.5 +/- 25.8) ng/L, respectively] than those in NNP women [(4.6 +/- 6.4) ng/L and (20.3 +/- 28.2) ng/L, respectively]. Serum concentrations of IL-4 and IL-10 were lower significantly (P < 0.01) in UHA women [(13.8 +/- 1.0) ng/L and (13.5 +/- 0.7) ng/L, respectively] than those in NNP women [(14.5 +/- 1.2) ng/L and (14.9 +/- 2.4) ng/L, respectively]. However, there were no significant differences in serum concentrations of IFN-gamma and TGF-beta 1 between UHA women and NNP women. (2) Serum concentrations of IL-2 were lower significantly (P < 0.05) in NP women [(1.6 +/- 4.3) ng/L] than those in NNP women. Serum concentrations of IL-4 were higher significantly (P < 0.01) in NP women [(16.3 +/- 0.8) ng/L] than those in NNP women. But there were no significant differences in serum concentrations of IFN-gamma, IL-10 and TGF-beta 1 between NP and NNP women. (3) After active immunotherapy, serum concentrations of IL-2 and IL-12 were decreased significantly [(5.6 +/- 9.0) ng/L and (28.5 +/- 40.3) ng/L respectively, P < 0.01] whereas serum concentrations of IL-4 and IL-10 were increased significantly [(14.7 +/- 1.2) ng/L and (15.0 +/- 1.8) ng/L respectively, P < 0.01] in UHA women. In addition, no significant changes in serum concentrations of IFN-gamma and TGF-beta 1 were found in UHA women after immunotherapy. (4) As compared to NNP women. there were no significant differences in serum concentrations of the above-mentioned cytokines in UHA women after active immunotherapy.
Conclusions: The results suggest that profile of TH1/TH2 type cytokines tilts to TH2 immunity in normal pregnancy, but to TH1 immunity in UHA. The active immunotherapy could make a shift from TH1 to TH2 immunity, thus favoring the maintenance of pregnancy.