NK and trophoblast cells interaction: cytotoxic activity on recurrent pregnancy loss

Abstract

The trial objective was to determine the peripheral blood NK cells cytotoxic activity effect on trophoblast cells at recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). The investigation involved non-pregnant women with PRL in proliferating and secretory menstrual cycle phases (PMCPh and SMCPh, respectively); women of 6–7 weeks pregnancy with RPL in past medical history; healthy fertile non-pregnant women in PMCPh and SMCPh, women of 6–7 weeks physiological pregnancy, nulliparity healthy women with regular menstrual function in PMCPh and SMCPh. NK cells cytotoxic activity was determined using peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The target cells were JEG-3 line trophoblasts. It has been established that NK cells cytotoxic activity effect on trophoblasts is lower in SMCPh than in PMCPh in non-pregnant fertile women. The NK cells cytotoxic activity was higher in SMCPh than in PMCPh in non-pregnant women with PRL and also higher than the same value in SMCPh in non-pregnant fertile women. The increased NK cells cytotoxic activity values in SMCPh in women with RPL may be the reason for miscarriage.

Keywords:

• NK cells
• trophoblast
• cytotoxic activity
• pregnancy
• recurrent pregnancy loss
• miscarriage
• peripheral blood

Acknowledgments

The authors express thanks to L.P. Viazmina for technical assistance.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Grant Board of President of Russian Federation under Grant NSh-2873.2018.7 (NK cells cytotoxicity analysis); Russian Federation State Program No. aaaa-a19-119021290116-1 (cell culturing).