Showing papers in "American journal of reproductive immunology in 2022"
TL;DR: The effect of Pfizer‐BioNTech mRNA SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccine on IVF treatment, oocyte and embryo quality, and pregnancy outcomes is evaluated.
Abstract: The COVID‐19 pandemic has many clinical manifestations. Rapid vaccine development raised concerns and speculations about future fertility outcomes and vaccine safety. We evaluated the effect of Pfizer‐BioNTech mRNA SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccine on IVF treatment, oocyte and embryo quality, and pregnancy outcomes.
22 citations
TL;DR: More than 325,000 cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) have been reported among pregnant women in the Americas.
Abstract: More than 325,000 cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) have been reported among pregnant women in the Americas.
11 citations
TL;DR: In this article , the immune system cells and the mediators produced by them can be named as effective factors in the onset and progression of endometriosis, and the exact etiology and mechanism of the pathogenesis of the disease have not been fully elucidated.
Abstract: Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with the growth and proliferation of endometrial‐like tissues outside the uterus. Although the exact etiology and mechanism of the pathogenesis of the disease have not been fully elucidated, the immune system cells and the mediators produced by them can be named as effective factors in the onset and progression of the disease.
11 citations
TL;DR: Women with hyper-activated immune status in the uterus are offered progesterone support, prednisolone, vitamin E, and intralipid treatment to suppress inflammation and oxidative stress, while endometrial scratching and intrauterine hCG administration are offered to women with hypo-active immune status.
Abstract: A failure to achieve pregnancy after three or more embryo transfer cycles with high‐quality blastocysts is referred to as recurrent implantation failure (RIF). RIF can be due to altered uterine factors or male factors or embryo factors. Disrupted endometrial receptivity, altered expression of genes in several pathways, immunologic disturbances in the peripheral blood and/or the endometrium, and epigenetic alterations are associated with RIF. Amongst the immunologic disturbances, altered Th1/Th2 ratio, altered NK cell and macrophage numbers are observed in women with RIF. However, not all women with RIF have the same kind of immune dysfunction suggesting that RIF is a heterogeneous condition associated with varied immune responses and one size may not fit all. Thus, personalized therapies based on the immune status of the patient are being tested in women with RIF. In general, women with a high Th1/Th2 ratio are offered Tacrolimus, while intravenous IgG is recommended in women with high NK cell numbers/HLA mismatch. Women with hyperactivated immune status in the uterus are offered progesterone support, prednisolone, vitamin E, and intralipid treatment to suppress inflammation and oxidative stress, while endometrial scratching and intrauterine hCG administration are offered to women with hypo‐active immune status. There is a need for standardized tests for evaluation of immune status in patients and sufficiently powered randomized controlled trials for personalized therapies to determine which of these will be beneficial in women with RIF. Till then, the ART community should limit the use of such add‐on interventions in women with RIF.
10 citations
TL;DR: The way that melatonin regulated trophoblast migration, invasion, and pyroptosis in PE is explored to provide new ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of PE.
Abstract: Melatonin has an inhibitory effect on preeclampsia (PE). This study was launched to explore the way that melatonin regulated trophoblast migration, invasion, and pyroptosis in PE and to provide new ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of PE.
7 citations
TL;DR: Eculizumab, a complement protein C5 inhibitor, is evaluated for treatment of severe COVID‐19 in pregnant and postpartum individuals and shows promising results.
Abstract: We evaluated eculizumab, a complement protein C5 inhibitor, for treatment of severe COVID‐19 in pregnant and postpartum individuals.
7 citations
TL;DR: Since the start of the pandemic, Pregnant individuals have been disproportionately affected by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, and data on effectiveness of vaccine in reducing disease severity are limited in pregnant individuals who later developed COVID‐19.
Abstract: Since the start of the pandemic, Pregnant individuals have been disproportionately affected by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Vaccination has been shown to be protective against severe disease. However, data on effectiveness of vaccine in reducing disease severity are limited in pregnant individuals who later developed COVID‐19.
7 citations
TL;DR: In this paper , the clinical value of endometrial receptivity array (ERA), immune profiling, or a combination of both for multiple implantation failure patients is unclear, and the authors highlight the high incidence of displaced window of implantation (WOI) and endometrium immune dysregulation in multiple implanted failure patients.
Abstract: The clinical value of endometrial receptivity array (ERA), endometrial immune profiling, or a combination of both for multiple implantation failure patients is unclear.One hundred and seventy-two women with a history of at least two or more consecutive implantation failures in IVF/ICSI treatment were included. According to patients' willingness, they were divided into four groups, 'no treatment', 'Immune Profiling', 'ERA' and 'ERA + Immune Profiling'. Endometrial biopsy was examined by ERA, immune profiling alone, or combination, and intention was adopted accordingly. Pregnancy outcomes were compared, and the association between ERA phases and endometrial immune profiling was also assessed.The overall incidence rate of the displaced window of implantation (WOI) and endometrial immune dysregulations were 84.9% and 75.3%, respectively. Implantation rate was significantly higher in the 'ERA + Immune Profiling' group than the 'no treatment' group (P = .007). Clinical pregnancy rate was somewhat improved in the three treatment groups but with a borderline significance (P = .071). After controlling for other confounders, 'ERA + Immune Profiling' treatment was associated with a higher pregnancy rate [aOR (95%CI) = 3.412 (1.387-8.395), P = .008]. There was no association between endometrial immune profiling and ERA phases.Our findings highlight the high incidence of displaced WOI and endometrial immune dysregulation in multiple implantation failure patients. The combination of ERA and endometrial immune profiling is more likely to have clinical value than ERA or immune profiling alone. These data suggested the unsubstitutability of ERA and endometrial immune profiling on the treatment outcome for multiple implantation failure patients.
7 citations
TL;DR: In this article , the authors used multivariable models to determine the association of race and socioeconomic status with inflammatory biomarkers during pregnancy, and a mediation model was used to examine if inflammation is on the causal pathway.
Abstract: Preterm birth rates are higher among individuals of lower socioeconomic status and non-White race, which is possibly related to life-course stressors. It is important to understand the underlying mechanisms of these health disparities, and inflammation is a possible pathway to explain the disparities in birth outcomes.In this study, we aimed to determine whether patterns of inflammation differed by maternal race and socioeconomic status.Seven hundred and forty-four participants in a multi-site, prospective study of pregnancy and birth outcomes provided biological and psychological data between 12'0-20'6 weeks gestation. Participants with recent infection, fever, antibiotics or steroid treatment were excluded. Cytokines including INFɣ, IL-10, IL-13, IL-6, IL-8, and TNFα, and the acute phase protein CRP were measured in serum and values and were log-transformed for normality when appropriate, and a non-orthogonal rotation (Oblimid) was performed to allow the extracted factor to inter-correlate. IFNγ, IL-8, IL-10, IL-6, TNF-a, and IL-13 loaded onto Inflammatory Factor 1 (IF-1), while CRP and IL-6 loaded onto Inflammatory Factor 2 (IF-2). Race and education were collected via self-report during an in-person study visit. Multivariable models were used to determine the association of race and SES with IF-1 and IF-2 during the second trimester, and a mediation model was used to examine if inflammation is on the causal pathway. Models were adjusted for study site, prenatal age, pre-pregnancy BMI, smoking during pregnancy, and gestational age at the time of blood collection.Six hundred and five participants were included in our final analysis, with 61.2% of low or moderate SES, and 35.5% identifying as a person of color (POC). Identifying as a POC, being of low and moderate SES, and being both low-SES and POC or moderate-SES and POC were associated with higher odds of preterm birth and lower birth weight percentile infants. Low SES POC participants had significantly higher IF-1 and IF-2 scores when compared to high-SES White participants. Additionally, higher IF-1 and IF-2 were associated with shorter gestation. In the mediation analysis, we observed a significant direct effect of race/SES on preterm birth; however, the results did not support an indirect pathway where IF-1 or IF-2 acted as mediators.Maternal race and SES are significantly associated with inflammatory biomarkers during pregnancy, and when race and SES are considered in combination, they are stronger predictors of adverse pregnancy outcomes than when evaluated separately.
6 citations
TL;DR: The immunological mechanism in the pathogenesis of POI is described and the alternations in humoral immunity and cellular immunity in patients with POI are summarized, which includes changed levels of cytokines and immunological cells especially Th1/Th2 ratio, Tregs cells and Th17 cells.
Abstract: To describe the immunological mechanism in the pathogenesis of premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), summarize the alternations in humoral immunity and cellular immunity in patients with POI, and review some associated treatment methods based on these immunological changes.
6 citations
TL;DR: Maternal circulating T cells and B cells display distinct responses during pregnancy that may reflect the unique capacity of T cells to respond to potential threats without undergoing aberrant activation, thereby preventing systemic inflammatory responses that can lead to adverse perinatal consequences.
Abstract: Pregnancy represents a state of systemic immune activation that is primarily driven by alterations in circulating innate immune cells. Recent studies have suggested that cellular adaptive immune components, T cells and B cells, also undergo changes throughout gestation. However, the phenotypes and functions of such adaptive immune cells are poorly understood. Herein, we utilized high‐dimensional flow cytometry and functional assays to characterize T‐cell and B‐cell responses in pregnant and non‐pregnant women.
TL;DR: Endometriosis is a chronic and relatively common disease in women of childbearing age and its complications include a wide range of disorders.
Abstract: Endometriosis is a chronic and relatively common disease in women of childbearing age. Complications of this disease include a wide range of disorders. The cause of this disease is not known for sure, but several hypotheses have been proposed for it.
TL;DR: This paper found that women with PCOS have a reduced total antioxidant level in addition to higher oxidative stress, and quercetin is a flavonol-type antioxidant that may be found in many foods.
Abstract: Women with PCOS have a reduced total antioxidant level in addition to higher oxidative stress. Quercetin is a flavonol‐type antioxidant that may be found in many foods. Does quercetin affect inflammatory and hormonal factors and clinical outcomes in PCOS patients?
TL;DR: Recurrent implantation failure (RIF) refers to a challenging topic in assisted reproductive technology (ART), the etiology of which may be attributed to impaired endometrial receptivity; however, the precise pathogenesis has not been thoroughly elucidated.
Abstract: Recurrent implantation failure (RIF) refers to a challenging topic in assisted reproductive technology (ART), the etiology of which may be attributed to impaired endometrial receptivity; however, the precise pathogenesis of RIF has not been thoroughly elucidated.
TL;DR: Intrauterine administration of autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) or human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) has been proposed to facilitate embryo implantation, while its effect on clinical outcome of women with previous implantation failure (RIF) in frozen/thawed embryo transfer (FET) cycles is still unclear.
Abstract: Intrauterine administration of autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) or human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) has been proposed to facilitate embryo implantation, while its effect on clinical outcome of women with previous implantation failure (RIF) in frozen/thawed embryo transfer (FET) cycles is still unclear.
TL;DR: This work has investigated the effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced systemic inflammation on the role of the NLRP3 inflammasome in murine testes and found that it contributes to the pathogenesis of a wide variety of diseases.
Abstract: Systemic inflammation induced by infection, which is associated with testicular inflammation, predisposes males to subfertility. Recently, the nucleotide‐binding oligomerization domain, leucine‐rich repeat‐, and pyrin domain‐containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome was identified as a key mediator of inflammation, and excessive activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome was shown to contribute to the pathogenesis of a wide variety of diseases. However, the mechanisms underlying infectious inflammation in the testis remain unclear. We investigated the effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced systemic inflammation on the role of the NLRP3 inflammasome in murine testes.
TL;DR: More high-quality randomized controlled trials suitable for population, race, dosage and timing of IVIG in the treatment of recurrent abortion are needed to confirm its effectiveness, and effective systematic evaluation is also needed to evaluate its use benefit.
Abstract: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of IVIG in the treatment with patients with recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA).
TL;DR: This study aims to better understand the mechanisms that progesterone can prevent PTB, and to recommend progesterone supplementation to prevent spontaneous preterm birth.
Abstract: Progesterone supplementation is recommended to prevent spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) in clinical practice. However, the exact mechanism is still unclear. This study aims to better understand the mechanisms that progesterone can prevent PTB.
TL;DR: COVID‐19 infection in the first trimester did not cause significant decidual leukocyte or cytokine changes at the maternal‐fetal interface, and vaccination was not associated with decidually inflammation, supporting the safety of SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination during pregnancy.
Abstract: COVID‐19 infection during pregnancy increases maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Infection in the second or third trimester leads to changes in the decidual leukocyte populations. However, it is not known whether COVID‐19 infection in the first trimester or COVID‐19 vaccination during pregnancy alters the decidual immune environment.
TL;DR: In this article , the role of uterine NK cells in implantation and how it is affecting in adverse pregnancy outcomes is explored and a review mainly aims explore the role and function of ukulele NK cells.
Abstract: Pregnancy brings about an intricate assortment of dynamic changes, which causes proper connection of genetically discordant maternal and foetal tissues. Uterine NK cells are immune cells populating the endometrium and play a major role in implantation and also regulate placentation. This review mainly aims explore the role of uterine NK cells in implantation and how it is affecting in adverse pregnancy outcomes.Though the functions of uterine NK (uNK) cells are not clearly understood, NK cell activity plays a vital role during immunomodulation which is the main step in implantation and sustaining the early pregnancy. Cytokines, cell surface receptors of NK cells and hormones such as progesterone modulate the NK cell activity in turn affect the implantation of the embryo. Altered NK cell activity (number and functionality) would be an important attributing factor in adverse pregnancy outcomes. Furthermore, T regulatory cells and cytokines also modulate the immune responses in the decidua which in turn contributes to successful implantation of embryos.Immunological responses and interactions in the Foetus-maternal interface is crucial in the successful implantation of allogenic foetus resulting in a healthy pregnancy. NK cells, Treg cells and cytokines play a major role in successful implantation which remains an enigma. Comprehending pregnancy-induced immunological changes at the foetus-maternal interface will allow newer therapeutic strategies to improve pregnancy outcomes.
TL;DR: The efficacy of lymphocyte immunotherapy in the treatment of recurrent pregnancy loss from alloimmunity has been debated for years and there is conflicting evidence on the therapeutic role of LIT.
Abstract: The efficacy of lymphocyte immunotherapy (LIT) in the treatment of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) from alloimmunity has been debated for years. There is conflicting evidence on the therapeutic role of LIT, since the etiology of most cases of RPL is previously classified as idiopathic.
TL;DR: The T cell and cytokine profiles in follicular fluid are characterized and its contribution to the development of diminished ovarian reserve is elucidated.
Abstract: Diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) is a daunting obstacle in in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intra cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), leading to poor reproductive outcomes. We aim to characterize the T cell and cytokine profiles in follicular fluid (FF) and elucidate its contribution to the development of DOR.
TL;DR: Starting from November 2019, the world has had to face a devastating pandemic caused by SARS‐CoV‐2, however it has not been demonstrated whether endometriosis might represent one of them.
Abstract: Starting from November 2019, the world has had to face a devastating pandemic caused by SARS‐CoV‐2. Various studies have identified potential risk factors facilitating the infection, however it has not been demonstrated whether endometriosis might represent one of them.
TL;DR: Evaluated the inflammasome‐dependent inflammation processes in placental tissue of women with PE and IUGR to find out if these processes lead to term and preterm labors.
Abstract: Preeclampsia (PE) and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) are leading causes of perinatal complications, affecting 8%–10% of all pregnancies. Inflammasomes are suspected to be one of the mechanisms that lead to the process of term and preterm labors. This study evaluated the inflammasome‐dependent inflammation processes in placental tissue of women with PE and IUGR.
TL;DR: Preeclampsia, a pregnancy complication with hypertension and proteinuria, seriously threats the health and lives of the mother and the baby.
Abstract: Preeclampsia, a pregnancy complication with hypertension and proteinuria, seriously threats the health and lives of the mother and the baby. The pathogenesis of pre‐eclampsia remains incompletely understood. The role of peripheral natural killer cells (NK cells) in the pre‐eclampsia is unclear.
TL;DR:
Abstract: Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play important roles in diseases occurring in women of reproductive age and pregnancy. Tregs are functionally heterogeneous and can be divided into activated Tregs (aTregs), resting Tregs (rTregs), and non‐suppressive Tregs (non‐Tregs). The purpose of this study is to investigate the change of Treg subpopulations during the menstrual cycle and early pregnancy.
TL;DR: Type I IFNs regulate inflammation‐induced preterm birth (PTB), but no study has examined the role of IFNε in human pregnancy.
Abstract: Interferon epsilon (IFNε) is a unique type I IFN that is expressed in response to sex steroids. Studies suggest that type I IFNs regulate inflammation‐induced preterm birth (PTB), but no study has examined the role of IFNε in human pregnancy.
TL;DR: A role for FOXP3 polymorphisms in RPL pathogenesis was suggested as Tregs development and function are regulated by forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) transcription factor, and as FoxP3 expression is genetically determined.
Abstract: The pathogenesis of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is multifactorial and not completely elucidated. Dysregulated immunity was implicated with RPL, in which regulatory T cells (Tregs) are key. As Tregs development and function are regulated by forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) transcription factor, and as FOXP3 expression is genetically determined, a role for FOXP3 polymorphisms in RPL pathogenesis was suggested.
TL;DR: Compared the serial changes of Tim‐3/Gal‐9, and PD‐1/PL‐1 in peripheral blood over a 4‐week period after blastocyst transfer, between women who had a live birth and those who miscarried.
Abstract: Immune checkpoints Tim‐3/Gal‐9 and PD‐1/PL‐1 are involved in the maintenance of maternal‐fetal immune tolerance systematically and locally. This study aimed to compare the serial changes of Tim‐3/Gal‐9, and PD‐1/PL‐1 in peripheral blood over a 4‐week period after blastocyst transfer, between women who had a live birth and those who miscarried.
TL;DR: The immune response induced by SARS‐CoV‐2 in patients and the changes in ACE2 expression in the female reproductive system are summarized and the present observational evidence of infection in pregnant women was reviewed.
Abstract: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) is a new type of coronavirus that has caused fatal infectious diseases and global spread. This novel coronavirus attacks target cells through the interaction of spike protein and angiotensin‐converting enzyme II (ACE2), leading to different clinical symptoms. However, for a successful pregnancy, a well‐established in‐uterine environment includes a specific immune environment, and multi‐interactions between specific cell types are prerequisites. The immune‐related changes in patients infected with novel coronavirus could interfere with the immune microenvironment in the uterus, leading to fetal loss. We first reviewed the intrauterine environment in the normal development process and the possible pregnancy outcome in the infection state. Then, we summarized the immune response induced by SARS‐CoV‐2 in patients and analyzed the changes in ACE2 expression in the female reproductive system. Finally, the present observational evidence of infection in pregnant women was also reviewed.