Intracellular cytokine production in peripheral blood lymphocytes: a comparison of values in infertile and fertile women

Am J Reprod Immunol. 2011 May;65(5):466-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0897.2010.00959.x. Epub 2011 Jan 18.

Abstract

Problem: To analyze the relation of the fertility and pregnancy of women of childbearing age to the intracellular (IC) production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interferon gamma (IFN-γ), and interleukins 2 and 4 (IL-2 and IL-4).

Method of study: Intracellular cytokine production in peripheral blood CD3(+) CD4(+) lymphocytes was analyzed by flow cytometry in 185 women being treated for infertility and 50 fertile women of childbearing age.

Results: Infertile women have a significantly higher IC production of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-2, and IL-4 and higher ratios of TNF-α/IL-2, TNF-α/IL-4, and TNF-α/IFN-γ compared to the fertile women.

Conclusion: Cytokines produced by Th lymphocytes are important in orchestrating the immune response during conception, and Th-cell dysregulation could be a reason for infertility.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cytokines / biosynthesis*
  • Cytokines / blood
  • Female
  • Fertility / immunology*
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Humans
  • Infertility, Female / immunology*
  • Infertility, Female / physiopathology
  • Interferon-gamma / biosynthesis
  • Interferon-gamma / blood
  • Interleukin-2 / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-2 / blood
  • Interleukin-4 / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-4 / blood
  • Pregnancy / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / metabolism*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / biosynthesis
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / blood

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Interleukin-2
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Interleukin-4
  • Interferon-gamma