ENDOMETRIAL LEUKOCYTES ARE ALTERED NUMERICALLY AND FUNCTIONALLY IN WOMEN WITH IMPLANTATION DEFECTS

PROBLEM: A significant cohort of women with autoimmune thyroid disease (ATD) also suffer from reduced fertility. The finding that neither ex ogenous hormones nor donor eggs correct the infertility suggests that the problem involves an inherent endometrial defect. METHOD OF STUDY: Endometrial leukocyte populations in women with ATD were quantitated b y immunohistochemistry. A semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase poly merase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique was used to examine the expre ssion of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta 1, interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, and interferon (IFN)-gamma in the endometrial samples. RESULTS: A significant increase in the endometrial T-cell population was obser ved in women with ATD compared to controls. The relative abundance of IL-4 and IL-10 was decreased in women with ATD compared to controls, w hereas IFN-gamma was increased. No difference was noted in the abundan ce of TGF-beta 1. The source of cytokine production for IL-4, IL-10, a nd IFN-gamma was the endometrial leukocytes. CONCLUSIONS: Both the leu kocyte numbers and cytokine expression profile were altered significan tly in a well-defined group of women with implantation defects.