Advances in Understanding the Immune Imbalance between T-Lymphocyte Subsets and NK Cells in Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion

Abstract

Recurrent spontaneous abortion is a global problem, and unexplained recurrent abortion triggered by immunological factors is an important focus of current research. Helper T lymphocytes (Th cells) and regulatory T lymphocytes (Treg cells) are central in human immune regulation and play a complex role in pregnancy. Natural killer cells (NK cells) exist in the endometrium and cooperate with T lymphocytes to create immune tolerance at the maternal-fetal interface, which is essential for successful pregnancy. This review has analyzed studies on Th17 cell, Treg cell and NK cell dysfunction and cellular imbalances which may contribute to unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion to suggest a possible direction for future immunotherapies.

Zusammenfassung

Der habituelle Abort ist ein weltweit auftretendes Problem, und habituelle, durch immunologische Faktoren ausgelöste Aborte unklarer Genese stehen im Mittelpunkt aktueller Forschungen. T-Helfer-Lymphozyten (TH-Zellen) und regulatorische T-Lymphozyten (T-reg-Zellen) sind zentral für die menschliche Immunregulation und spielen eine komplexe Rolle in der Schwangerschaft. In der Uterusschleimhaut gibt es natürliche Killerzellen (NK-Zellen), die mit den T-Lymphozyten zusammenarbeiten, um jene maternofetale Immuntoleranz herzustellen, die für eine erfolgreiche Schwangerschaft unabdingbar ist. In diesem Übersichtsartikel werden Studien zu Funktionsstörungen von TH17-Zellen, T-reg-Zellen und NK-Zellen sowie zum Ungleichgewicht von Zellen vorgestellt. Die besprochenen Funktionsstörungen tragen möglicherweise zum Auftreten von habituellen Aborten bei und deuten auch die potenzielle Forschungsrichtung für künftige Immuntherapien an.

Key words

Th17 cells - Treg cells - decidual natural killer cells - recurrent spontaneous abortion - review

Schlüsselwörter

TH17-Zellen - T-reg Zellen - deziduale natürliche Killerzellen - habitueller Abort - Übersichtsartikel

^* Note: Xiaoxuan Zhao and Yuepeng Jiang are considered the co-lead authors.

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