부산대학교 도서관

Problem Recent studies revealed appropriate differentiation of recent thymic emigrant ( RTE)-regulatory T cells (Tregs) to be crucial for maintaining healthy pregnancy. Currently, the role of responder T cells (Tresps) is not known. Method of study Six-color flow cytometric analysis was used to detect differences in the differentiation of highly proliferative inducible co-stimulatory ( ICOS)+- RTE-Tregs/Tresps and apoptosis-sensitive ICOS−- RTE-Tregs/Tresps into mature naïve ( MN)-, CD31+-memory and CD31−-memory Tregs/Tresps in women with spontaneous preterm labor ( sPL) compared to healthy pregnancy. Results Healthy pregnancy was characterized by an increased differentiation of ICOS+- and ICOS−- RTE-Tregs, as well as ICOS+- RTE-Tresps via CD31+-memory Tregs/Tresps into CD31−-memory Tregs/Tresps. Women with sPL showed an early interruption of RTE-Treg/Tresp differentiation. Instead, ICOS+- MN-Tresps and partly ICOS−- MN-Tregs differentiated into CD31−-memory Tregs/Tresps, causing a significant reduction of both ICOS+-Tregs and ICOS+-Tresps, but an increase of ICOS−-Tresps within total CD4+-T-helper cells. Conclusion Aberrant differentiation of ICOS+-T cells is associated with sPL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]