Abstract
Leukemia inhibitory factor is essential for embryo implantation, and a shift from type 1 T-helper to type 2 T-helper response at the fetal–maternal interface may contribute to successful pregnancy. We show that LIF production is associated with type 2 T-helper cells, is upregulated by IL-4 and progesterone and is downregulated by IL-12, IFN-γ and IFN-α. We also show a decreased production of LIF, IL-4 and IL-10 by decidual T cells of women with unexplained recurrent abortions in comparison with that of women with normal gestation. The defective production of LIF and/or type 2 T-helper cytokines may contribute to the development of unexplained recurrent abortions.
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Acknowledgements
We thank A. Conti for his help in the statistical analysis. The experiments here have been supported by grants provided by A.I.R.C, Italian Ministery of Health (AIDS Project) and EC (Biotechnology Project). L.B. was supported by a fellowship from F.I.R.C.
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Piccinni, MP., Beloni, L., Livi, C. et al. Defective production of both leukemia inhibitory factor and type 2 T-helper cytokines by decidual T cells in unexplained recurrent abortions. Nat Med 4, 1020–1024 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1038/2006
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/2006
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