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Defective production of both leukemia inhibitory factor and type 2 T-helper cytokines by decidual T cells in unexplained recurrent abortions

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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Figure 1: LIF production is upregulated by progesterone.
Figure 2: Progesterone increases LIF production by TT-specific short-term T-cell cultures via the production of IL-4.
Figure 3: Cytokine production by CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell clones derived from the deciduae of women with URA or VA.

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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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Correspondence to Sergio Romagnani.

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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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