Inhibition of trophoblast adhesion to endothelial cells by the sera of women with recurrent spontaneous abortions

PROBLEM: May anti-phospholipid or other autoantibodies interfere with troph oblast-endothelial cells interaction in women with unexplained pregnancy lo sses? METHODS OF STUDY: The sera of 72 women with recurrent spontaneous abortions (RSA) containing antibodies to endothelial cells (28), trophoblast (14), a nd cardiolipin (10) or lacking antibodies (25). and 26 controls were examin ed in an inhibition assay of trophoblast adhesion to endothelial cells usin g an ELISA based un thr recognition of trophoblast by antibodies to cytoker atin. RESULTS: Adhesion of trophoblast to endothelial cells was time- and dose-de pendent. Patients and control sera inhibited trophoblast adhesion with mean values of 37% and 7%, respectively. Inhibition above 2SD of the mean contr ol value was still observed in 58% of the patients sera and 8% of the contr ol sera. Sera containing antibodies to endothelial cells had higher inhibit ory effect (38%) than those with antibodies to trophoblast (23%) and cardio lipin (28%) or lacking antibodies (26%). CONCLUSIONS: Antibodies and other undefined factors in the sera of women wi th RSA inhibit adhesion of trophoblast to endothelial cells.